BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A program combining elder care and child care may be the cure for loneliness for people living in senior facilities.
In a committee hearing in Washington on Thursday, New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan highlighted the senior living community Kendal in Hanover, which hosts daycare and early education programs for kids.
In the hearing, Hassan said that one in three older Americans reported being lonely and that intergenerational care like this can help both kids and older people alike.
“For residents who enter the facility alone or are experiencing health issues and may be more prone to social isolation, volunteering in the classroom and working with the kids has become their favorite part of the day,” said Senator Hassan.
Hassan said that the younger students and people living at the senior facility can develop bonds and learn from each other.