Preschool Put into a Nursing Home: Winning Combination

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As a nursing instructor, I’m sometimes asked to visit students in preceptorship (their last practicum; they go out 1:1 with a nurse) to see how things are going. One of the sites I visit (a nursing home) has a daycare in it. I do not know how things work in practice, but I think the idea is great. It teaches children not to be afraid of older people, and it also brings older people (who may be sad and lonely; depression is very common in institutionalized older people) into contact with happy young children.
 
I am so glad someone is doing this! What a boon for both the elderly and the little ones 🙂
 
Hmmm, would the people who live in the nursing home and who would be interacting with the children be expected to pass background checks just like the daycare workers must? I read the article, but I didn’t see any mention of that
 
jmjZelie said:
Hmmm, would the people who live in the nursing home and who would be interacting with the children be expected to pass background checks just like the daycare workers must? I read the article, but I didn’t see any mention of that
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Good point. I wonder how they worked that out.
 
Billy112 said:
youtube.com/watch?v=YhP2ssoO4lQ

Not to compare dogs and children, but this is what I was reminded of.
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Thanks for posting this!

God sure knows how to put his love into his creatures. I can’t believe how that little dog rides the elevator to different floors to visit the people he CHOOSES to visit and it is often those who need it the most.

Absolutely precious! 🙂
 
His_helpmeet said:
As a nursing instructor, I’m sometimes asked to visit students in preceptorship (their last practicum; they go out 1:1 with a nurse) to see how things are going. One of the sites I visit (a nursing home) has a daycare in it. I do not know how things work in practice, but I think the idea is great. It teaches children not to be afraid of older people, and it also brings older people (who may be sad and lonely; depression is very common in institutionalized older people) into contact with happy young children.
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My mom also taught nursing. She had mixed feelings about the time spent in the convalescent care unit because the patients would get extra attention and interaction for the duration of the practicum only to be left alone again after the students finished that practicum. The patients would just be responding to the attention and would begin to engage again, then suddenly lose the extra, regular interaction. The care unit did have activities as well as communal meals but that really isn’t enough, especially if family isn’t visiting.

I think the day care is a wonderful idea.
 
His_helpmeet said:
As a nursing instructor, I’m sometimes asked to visit students in preceptorship (their last practicum; they go out 1:1 with a nurse) to see how things are going. One of the sites I visit (a nursing home) has a daycare in it. I do not know how things work in practice, but I think the idea is great. It teaches children not to be afraid of older people, and it also brings older people (who may be sad and lonely; depression is very common in institutionalized older people) into contact with happy young children.
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Wonderful! What part of the country are you in?
 
Hey lax!

I think this is a great idea. I really think that helps both sides. I mean it just feels right.

Peace.

-Trident
 
Trident_H said:
Hey lax!

I think this is a great idea. I really think that helps both sides. I mean it just feels right.

Peace.

-Trident
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Hi Trident!! 🙂

It’s such a win-win. Maybe we’ll begin to see more of this.

You’re right, it just feels right.
 
Bruised_Reed said:
My mom also taught nursing. She had mixed feelings about the time spent in the convalescent care unit because the patients would get extra attention and interaction for the duration of the practicum only to be left alone again after the students finished that practicum. The patients would just be responding to the attention and would begin to engage again, then suddenly lose the extra, regular interaction. The care unit did have activities as well as communal meals but that really isn’t enough, especially if family isn’t visiting.

I think the day care is a wonderful idea.
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It just breaks my heart to think of how many elderly are suffering from loneliness.

I really need to do something about it in my little corner of the world.

Thanks for the reality check. 🙂
 
If there were licensed day care workers and elderly care providers present to facilitate the interactions, and all adults, including the elderly people living in the nursing home were expected to pass background checks, then I think this sounds like a wonderful option. I agree that loneliness is a real problem for the elderly, and ageism is a real problem in our society.
I also prefer classrooms with multiple ages of students learning together. The entire history of humankind was age-integrated living, working, learning and playing. Until the 20th century. 🤷
 
Oh my gosh. Get the tissues, indeed! Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea! It is beautiful.
 
So, now I can drop my annoying mom and my screaming toddler off at the same place!? Now that is American ingenuity!

(Sorry couldn’t resist…)
 
Billy112 said:
youtube.com/watch?v=YhP2ssoO4lQ

Not to compare dogs and children, but this is what I was reminded of.
Click to expand...
Pet therapy is also a WONDERFUL option for older adults. One facility where I worked had 2 cats that lived there and had the run of the place. We had a petting zoo come to visit at one point, and the rec therapist brought a rabbit inside to show the people who couldn’t come out. Another facility where I worked allowed pets to be brought in to visit, as long as you brought the vaccination records.
 
His_helpmeet said:
Pet therapy is also a WONDERFUL option for older adults. One facility where I worked had 2 cats that lived there and had the run of the place. We had a petting zoo come to visit at one point, and the rec therapist brought a rabbit inside to show the people who couldn’t come out. Another facility where I worked allowed pets to be brought in to visit, as long as you brought the vaccination records.
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I find it so interesting that people with difficult personalities can also benefit from animals.

They can touch them in a way humans cannot.
 
We used to have a word for that sort of arrangement: family. Across regions and throughout time, families and larger communities have co-existed interdependently in mixed age groups. There is complementarity to people at different life stages spending time together and supporting one another. 🙂
 
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