Roly Lalonde sits in a walker while a toddler named Daa-Sha listens to his heart with a blue plastic stethoscope.
asserted
toddler → sit → stethoscope
Next, she checks his blood pressure.
asserted
she → check → pressure
The Second World War veteran boasts about his good health at 103, except for some challenges with his eyes.
asserted
veteran → boast → eyes
He’s also in good spirits, sporting a light-coloured suit and a smile, buoyed by his many new friends − who are about a century younger.
asserted
who → ’ → friends
He often checks on his wee comrades here, at a daycare down the hall from his room in a long-term care wing for veterans at Ottawa’s Perley Health.
asserted
He → check → Health
“I sometimes watch them eat and they wave their hands,” Mr. Lalonde said.
asserted
Lalonde → watch → hands
“It’s beautiful.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
These are typical interactions at Canada’s first purpose-built intergenerational early learning centre.
asserted
These → build → centre
The aim of the project, which began welcoming children in July, is to foster community and combat loneliness among seniors through interactions between children and “grandfriends.”
asserted
which → begin → children
The model could serve as an example for other centres across the country as Canada experiences rapid growth in its aging population.
uncertain
Canada → serve → population
Two-year-old Daa-Sha is one of 49 children who attend daycare at Perley Health, which offers independent living and long-term care for seniors.
asserted
which → attend → seniors
Located near the gift shop, the learning centre is intentionally situated at the height of foot traffic.
asserted
centre → locate → traffic
It is somewhat akin to a fish bowl, with large windows that allow for residents to greet children inside the centre.
asserted
residents → allow → centre
The daycare space itself is about double the size of traditional child-care centres, in order to help seniors who use walkers or wheelchairs move with ease over non-slip tiles.
asserted
who → help → tiles
It also features sound-absorbing materials to make it more comfortable for residents with dementia.
asserted
it → feature → dementia
“We want to bring generations together and communities together,” said Katrin Spencer, vice-president of strategy and business development at Perley.
asserted
Spencer → want → Perley
About 80 per cent of the children have parents who work for the health organization.
asserted
who → work → organization
“When you move into long-term care, you want to be part of a community still,” she added.
asserted
she → move → community
Many studies have shown the benefits of bringing generations together, including better mental health, improved well-being and increased sense of purpose.
asserted
studies → show → purpose
And similar centres exist elsewhere in the world, including in Australia and Britain.
asserted
centres → exist → Australia
But research on the effect of having child care situated inside a long-term care facility is still limited, says Annie Robitaille, named by Perley Health in 2020 as its Ottawa research chair of the Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care.
asserted
Robitaille → have → Care
Prof. Robitaille is leading a team studying the interactions at Perley and evaluating the program as it unfolds – but the work was already under way before opening day.
asserted
work → lead → day
They conducted interviews with residents, including veterans in independent living and those in long-term care.
asserted
They → conduct → care
In part, the research will look at whether the centre improves mental health for the seniors.
asserted
centre → look → seniors
“Does it actually decrease loneliness?
asserted
it → decrease → loneliness
Also, what impact does it have on staff?” Prof. Robitaille said, referring to those who work on the campus and have kids in daycare there.
asserted
who → have → daycare
The project, which was about six years in the making, cost $4.8-million.
asserted
which → cost → million
It received $2-million from the Perley Health Foundation and $2-million from Ontario’s Ministry of Education.
asserted
It → receive → Education
Perley and Andrew Fleck collaborated throughout the process, and still do, said Ms. Spencer, adding that they work carefully to prevent the spread of infection, for example.
asserted
they → collaborate → example
When the COVID-19 pandemic raised questions about bringing together young children and seniors – both vulnerable populations – the organizations worked through necessary regulations with support from Ottawa Public Health.
asserted
organizations → raise → Health
If an outbreak is declared in long-term care or in child care, interactions between the cohorts are paused.
asserted
interactions → declare → cohorts
As well, all of the furniture at the centre is wipeable and easy to clean, and handwashing stations are located at its entrance.
asserted
stations → clean → entrance
When children arrive, workers conduct wellness checks.
asserted
workers → arrive → checks
The parents know the policies and ensure children stay home if they are ill, said Tina McLean, a program co-ordinator with Andrew Fleck who has worked in child care for three decades.
asserted
who → know → decades
She described her work at the centre as deeply rewarding.
asserted
She → describe → centre
“The interactions that I see, let alone have myself, are so magical,” she said, adding that different generations are connecting like family.
And it’s not just the seniors who benefit.
asserted
who → see → family
The community draws valuable lessons from residents like Mr. Lalonde, who enthusiastically embraces life.
asserted
who → draw → life
A talented artist, he can frequently be found in Perley’s art studio when he isn’t visiting with his newfound friends.
asserted
he → find → friends
“We have so much to learn from you,” Ms. McLean tells him.
asserted
McLean → have → him
With a grin, he replies: “I know it.
asserted
I → reply → it
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
