Marketown Shopping Centre Intergenerational Program

Montessori Academy pre-school children and Anglican Care seniors residents

"I have heard that up to 40 per cent of people in residential aged care have no visitors 365 days of the year."- Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt 2018-2019

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Inspired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s TV program “Old People’s Homes for Four Year Olds”, Marketown Shopping Centre has been the facilitator of a similar intergenerational program in collaboration with Montessori Academy Childcare Centre and Anglican Care Aged Care Services.

Five weeks ago, preschoolers from Montessori Academy and residents from Scenic Lodge Nursing Home came together for the first of its kind intergenerational program within a shopping centre.

Each Thursday, eight to nine Scenic Lodge residents are brought to Marketown Shopping Centre to partake in a fun morning of play and learning with twenty to twenty-five children from Montessori Academy who are a tenant within Marketown.

The program was initially created for a five-week trial to monitor the benefits of interaction between the two generations. Each week, the residents arrive at 10 AM for morning tea provided by Marketown Shopping Centre before the children join them at 10:30 AM for play, stories, and songs. The eight to nine residents who attend are aged between 84 and 95 years old and engage with children 2 to 4 years old. Many of these residents don’t have family of their own or don’t often see their children who are also senior citizens.

Montessori Academy director Vicky Gilbert and her staff have put together the weekly program that incorporates craft stations, puzzles, stories and songs. The program is designed to encourage both the children and the senior residents to engage in the activity.

“It’s so heartwarming to see the joy in the Scenic Lodge resident’s eyes when engaging with the children each week”

Marketing Manager Penny Price says. “There have been days when a couple of the older residents have been feeling a bit flat when they arrive, but the minute the children join them, their mood improves significantly”.

“You can definitely see the benefits of both generations coming together each week,” Penny Price says.

“It’s a great opportunity for the senior residents to have a reason to get up and venture to Marketown each week. We are so proud to be a part of this program”.

Jane Meldrum, the Lifestyle Wellbeing & Diversity Manager of Anglican Care says it is the highlight of the resident’s week with many of them sharing their stories with residents who don’t attend the program.

Although the program was an initial five-week trial, many of the residents at Scenic Lodge have expressed interest in this program becoming a regular occurrence.