KEARNEY — Wrinkled and shaking, 90-year-old hands butter toast for a 4-year-old before fussing with the child’s bib.
That scene of mixed generations can be seen every morning at Mount Carmel Home Keens Memorial. The 75-bed facility at 412 W. 18th St. has had a day-care center, Little Shepherds Kidz Place, on site for the last 10 years.
“It’s great having little ones around. I’m a newbie here, but having young kids puts a kick in your step. It gives you something to look forward to,” Delbert Kirk said as he painted pumpkins Wednesday afternoon with Maddyx Trew, a preschooler.
Little Shepherd’s Kidz Place was built at Mount Carmel in summer 2006. Initially, the center was open only for employees who worked at the nursing home. In January 2012, it was opened to the public. It serves children 6 weeks to 12 years old.
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Every morning, the preschoolers line up and follow their teacher to the family room for breakfast, and the kids beeline to assigned tables with residents.
Assistant professor Toni Hill of the Family Studies Department at the University of Nebraska at Kearney said Mount Carmel is onto something in terms of socialization.
“Research shows there are benefits for older adults or elders engaged in shared sites. Older adults can benefit from the social interaction with children. They can also benefit by volunteering in the child-care program assisting with supervision, physical activities, meal preparation, lesson plans and instruction.”
The presence of older adults in the care center may help to counter aging stereotypes, prejudice or ageism, she said.
Resident Joyce Clarke loves sitting with 5-year-old Emmi Pettit.
“Oh, my gosh, it’s such a joy to have the little ones here. Emmi sits with us and she tells us what’s she doing at school,” Clarke said as Emmi came to the table with a plate of bacon and toast.
“My little jewel of the morning,” Clarke said as Pettit climbed into her seat. “It reminds me of when I was younger, when I had my own home, kids and things to do.”
Former teacher Elsa Staley is a new resident at Mount Carmel. Every afternoon, she wheels through the corridors to the day-care center to read books and sing songs with the kids.
“It so fun to see their faces and their expressions when I read or we sing songs,” Staley said. Even if the residents are unable to communicate or interact with the children, many enjoy the view from the rooms to the children’s playground.
Tracy Banda has been working at Mount Carmel for more than 10 years and is the finance director of operations. She has taken both her kids to the day care on campus. Her daughter Sophia is attending the day care.
“The benefits for the child and resident are monumental. It gives the residents purpose when they have the children around. At breakfast, you’ll see the residents cutting up food on the child’s plate and help put their bib on them. They enjoy the intergenerational activities, too,” Banda said.
“It’s also beneficial for the child because they aren’t intimidated to see someone with wrinkly skin sitting in a wheelchair or using an oxygen tank. To them it’s a normal part of life. It’s just amazing,” Banda said.
Residents get a better outlook on life, she said.
“The staff have noticed changes in the residents who interact with the kids. We see the biggest difference in the Alzheimer’s unit,” she said. Many women still feel maternal. They often carry around baby dolls, but when they get to hold an infant in the day-care center, Banda said, it’s almost as if the residents are remembering their own children.
Hill said the shared-site increases the opportunity for children and older adults to interact.
“Research has shown improvement in both mood and function for older adults. Older adults have reported feeling better when seeing and interacting with children. Some studies have suggested improved physical and cognitive functioning for elders in shared-site programs,” she said.
Banda thinks the reason many day-care centers and nursing homes don’t mix is because they may not realize it’s a option or wonder if it’s a good financial option.
However, “to give the residents a purpose and a child a different perception is worth any price tag,” she said.
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