Sandwiched
Halloween is less than two weeks away now. Soon ghosts, goblins and other assorted creatures will descend upon neighborhoods across the country.
In recent years, trick or treating has expanded beyond this tradition to include Trunk or Treat events, trick or treating at church parties and fall festivals, and costumed visits to facilities for the elderly. I, of course, especially love the latter idea.
Seniors enjoy visits from people of all ages, but I think having energetic, happy little faces lights up their world even more. My mom has a picture of her and a young dancer together during a recent performance in her facility. The smile and joy radiating from her face in that photo is a sight that makes me happy whenever I visit.
Numerous studies have linked social interaction with decreased loneliness, delayed mental decline, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of disease and death in the elderly. Socializing across generations has also been shown to increase the amount of smiling and conversation among older adults.
But it’s not just the seniors who benefit from these interactions. According to a 2018 study by Generations Unlimited and the Eisner Foundation, children who spend time with adults with dementia develop social and emotional competencies, such as empathy, patience and problem solving. Adults are often less agitated and more engaged during interactions with kids than in other activities.
The report also showed that elementary-school-age children in intergenerational programs demonstrate a greater ability to regulate their behavior. Ninety-seven percent of adults who participate in such programs said they felt happy, loved and needed.
I’ve been thrilled to see Intergenerational Learning Centers popping up throughout the United States and other countries in recent years. These are essentially childcare centers and/or preschools held within a living-care community for older adults. The benefits of this set up for kids are remarkable.
Intergenerational interactions enhance children’s social and personal development. Children who have early contact with older people are less likely to view them as incompetent. Exposing children to positive depictions of elders reduces their chances of experiencing ageism, which is prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age. Kids in these situations are prone to feel more comfortable around those with disabilities and impairments of all kinds than others who lack such experiences.
My friend Cindy and her daughter Arianna regularly visited an assisted living facility near them when they lived in Atlanta. She has shared with me multiple times how much it has helped her young daughter be a kind, caring and compassionate person.
“We loved it and it brought blessings to us and them!” Cindy remarked about the experience.
My mom’s facility will have little “trick or treaters” coming soon and I know she’s looking forward to it. If you have young children, I encourage you to talk to your local elder care facility to see if they might be open to regular visits. Even a regularly monthly visit can do wonders for all!