Intergenerational Playgroup Brings Joy to Both Ends of Age Spectrum

Willoughby Wellness Centre, a Catholic Healthcare managed day centre, is now giving children and seniors the opportunity to reap the positive benefits of an intergenerational playtime held at the centre at least once a month. 

Approximately 15 children between the ages of 3 and 5 join day-centre clients once a month where the children showcase songs, dances and games for the clients, who wholeheartedly enjoy the regular visits.

Jonathan “Jon” Helm, Coordinator at Willoughby Wellness Centre, said he started the initiative to address the loneliness that many older people feel when they begin to lose their independence.

The Willoughby Wellness Centre and Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner Preschool formed a partnership that follows many positive results that have previously shown the benefits of an intergenerational interaction like this one. Many original studies have been done in residential aged care homes in the United States as well as Australia, but research shows that clients who are day centre based can equally find the interaction effective for alleviating loneliness, depression and even social anxiety.

“From what we understand about our clients, many of them begin to sense depression when they can no longer perform everyday tasks easily, anymore,” says Jon.

“Children have this ability to make them forget that. There’s something magical about the sincerity of their joy.”

The Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner Preschool is a mere 20 feet away from the aged care home, located just next door for ease of regular visits. The preschool has a strong philosophy of exposing children to “good examples” who they believe children will imitate for the “deepest level of learning”.

Jon says the partnership between the two organisations was optimal given their comparable philosophies.

“Catholic Healthcare’s Mission is to ‘promote life in all its fullness’,” Jon explains. “And this activity with the children from Glenaeon is truly life-enriching for these clients. It makes a huge difference to them.”

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