Seniors And Children Together
CASS Residential Aged Care Facility winning an architectural award
“Intergenerational programs” and “intergenerational living” have recently become popular concepts in aged care provision. Intergenerational living communities have emerged in countries such as the United States and Germany where the population is rapidly ageing. By offering seniors opportunities to interact with younger generations, they reignite their joy in life. Children learn how to relate to, and care for seniors.
There is something special about the location of the CASS Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) in Campsie. From the outside, visitors can appreciate the modern design of the building and the abundant plants in the garden. Looking out from a balcony, residents can see the CASS Campsie Child Care Centre next door, full of children laughing as they play. Nearby, the CASS Activity Hall is crowded with middle aged people meeting and doing what they enjoy. The happy sounds of their voices float up.
Three different services for three different generations are so close that participants can see what is happening next door. Although there are safety fences between the areas, it is clear at all times what is happening in each. When RACF residents relax at their windows, on their balconies or in the gardens, they can see and hear everything.
The CASS RACF won the 2015 Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW Award for Excellence. The Foundation Chairperson and Honorary Executive Director of CASS, Mr Henry Pan, commented, “We had intergenerational interactions in mind when we were planning the construction of the RACF. While CASS has been providing aged care services over the years, apart from adhering to Australian guidelines and regulations, we have always paid attention to new concepts and developments in the industry. When we found innovative ideas or experiences from other countries that would benefit our seniors, we would try to integrate them into our services.”
“The design of our RACF also has connections with our cultural roots. In Chinese culture, intergenerational living is common and is a symbol of happiness and wellbeing. When people of different generations live together, seniors can find a smile every day and experience constant from younger people. Children and young people can learn from seniors’ experience and wisdom, while at the same time learning to understand the difficulties they experience in their daily lives. They can understand the traditional Chinese value of filial piety as they look after their seniors.”
“In our service provision for seniors, we have gained understanding of their needs. Before the building of the RACF, we had run activities for them in the Activity Hall while providing day care services in the Campsie Child Care Centre. We saw how the seniors’ faces lit up when they saw children playing. So we have regularly organised joint activities for seniors and children to enhance their interactions.”
“Since intergenerational programs have been well received by both groups, we decided to implement that model when we designed the RACF. We were not aware then that many recent studies in aged care services had also pointed a similar way.”
“The experience of CASS shows that when we watch and listen to seniors while caring for their needs, we will understand them better and be able to provide the best services.”
Watching children and seniors interacting at CASS is heart-warming and comforting. The seniors who receive such loving care in the RACF are truly blessed.
Originally published in March 2018
Interaction of seniors and children at Campsie Child Care Centre