Intergenerational Learning Centre to be built at Andrew Kerr Care in Mornington

Kinder kids and the elderly will learn together in a yet-to-be-built centre at a Mornington aged care facility.

A new $1.2 million Intergenerational Learning Centre will be built off a Mornington aged care home. Picture: Supplied

Youngsters and the elderly will learn together under a revolutionary childcare model set to become increasingly popular across the state.

A new $1.2 million Intergenerational Learning Centre will be built off a Mornington aged care home, connecting three and four year old kinder kids with elderly residents to boost children’s empathy, tolerance and give them a better understanding of generational change.

The Andrews Government is investing $500,000 in the centre, at Andrew Kerr Care, with 66 kinder places for kids — understood to be the first of its kind in Victoria.

Elderly residents will take part in a roster system where they will play, garden, listen to music and create art with the children, as well as eat meals together.

There will be a loungeroom space where residents can sit and watch over children as they play.

“It will be reminiscent of years gone by when they sat in their own loungerooms and watched their own children play,” said Fiona Glumac, co-director of The Herd Intergenerational Learning Centre, which will run the program.

The Herd — named after young elephants who care for their elders — hopes its program will be an education beacon to inspire other early learning centres and aged care homes to take intergenerational care across the state.

The Victorian Government hopes the centre will help young Victorians get to know their elders, better understand the ageing process and spend time with people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, aged care residents would benefit from having the chance to play and laugh with children, and boost their physical activity.

The program director hopes it will be an education beacon to inspire other early learning centres and aged care homes.

Griffith University’s Prof Anneke Fitzgerald — a leading researcher in intergenerational learning programs — hoped Australia would soon develop higher education qualifications for those wishing to work in the emerging field, connecting young and old and helping them learn and care for one another.

“We think it’s essential from the children’s point of view,” Prof Fitzgerald said.

“Their language skills improve greatly, their behavioural skills, they become quieter and more reflective.

“From the data, we know children who interact with older people are less likely to become delinquents.”

She said aged care staff also noticed differences in residents when they spent time with children.

A day spent around youngsters elevated residents’ mood, promoted conversation and stimulated reminiscence that helped the elderly share tales of their lives.

“They find there’s more chatter around the dinner table,” Prof Fitzgerald said of aged care staff.

“They’re less isolated, even in the facility where they live — less socially excluded and less lonely.”

Early Childhood Minister Ingrid Stitt said the centre would “enable our elderly and youngest people to connect and learn from each other to provide a unique approach to care and education”.

Construction on the new Mornington centre off Andrew Kerr Care is expected to begin in February, and be completed by mid-2021.