Words by Smiley Team
Bringing young and old people together is widely known to offer benefits across the generations. Studies show that it can reduce loneliness, mental decline, blood pressure issues and even the risk of disease or death in elderly people, all while helping children learn vital social skills.
To put this knowledge into practice, nursery director Judith Ish-Horowicz MBE created the UK’s first intergenerational care home, launching Apples and Honey Nightingale Nursery on the same site as Nightingale House care home in South London.
“It was really important to me that the elderly people should be able to spend time mixing with the young," she says. "I thought the grounds around Nightingale House were such a beautiful site for this to happen and there was just enough space for a nursery there."
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Thanks to a generous donation, the nursery was built in 2017, permitting elderly people and toddlers to share games, singing sessions, cooking lessons, storytellings and festivities. Both the care home and nursery operates in a Jewish faith-based setting but the nursery welcomes children of all backgrounds.
Since the nursery opened its doors they’ve seen great benefits for both infants and elderly residents.
“There’s just so much more joy in the home now," says Judith. "While visiting, I see faces light up amongst the residents and the children.”
Additionally, their interactions help the children’s development. “The residents see themselves not just as adoptive ‘great grand-friends’ but also as teachers," she says. "As a result, we’re amazed at how articulate the children have become as well as their maturity and sensitivity that’s so lovely to behold.”
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Going forward, Judith hopes to create an accredited qualification to spread knowledge about intergenerational care.
"I believe intergenerational care is the way forward and could transform society to become more cohesive and mutually supportive," she says.
"If every care setting or club had someone working there who understands the benefits of intergenerational care enough so as to lead a programme, that could genuinely help people to work together so that care is mutually beneficial instead of one party offering a service to another.”
For further updates keep an eye on the intergenerational page of applesandhoneynightingale.com.
