Victorian aged care home combines play and music to connect generations

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Studies show that music and play can boost the mental health of aged care residents and improve learning outcomes for children. So, why not combine the two? One aged care home in Warrnambool is doing just that.

Transcript

00:00There's a buzz in the air every Tuesday morning at this Warrnambool Residential Aged Care

00:09Facility.

00:10We got here at quarter past ten, we were going to make sure we didn't miss out today.

00:14I'm always awake when nothing gets in front of me for Tuesday.

00:19The excitement is for the intergenerational music sessions, where kinder kids come to

00:23visit.

00:24The Hayley Ho train has arrived, good morning everybody.

00:29We used to have just a smaller circle and the circle's got bigger and bigger and bigger

00:33and bigger, so it's a bit of an indication of how it's grown.

00:39The sessions are helping connect the smallest and oldest members of the community.

00:43Maybe it helps us understand the generations that are coming up, and that's really important

00:50to stay connected, and this helps us do that.

00:53The rise of intergenerational learning programs has sparked TV shows like the ABC's Old People's

00:59Home for 4-Year-Olds.

01:00But beyond the cuteness factor, these kinds of learning programs have proven socio-emotional

01:05benefits for the little ones, and can boost the mental health of their older friends.

01:11Sometimes older people feel a little bit irrelevant to things that are going on in society and

01:19in the world.

01:20Using music is a very effective way with the children to assist with that validation and

01:26connection.

01:27Studies show these kinds of learning programs can help bridge generational divides.

01:31Young people see older people in a much more positive way, as do older people seeing younger

01:40people in a very positive way.

01:43But at Mercy Place, you don't need studies to see that.

01:50Mercy Place.

01:51M-E-R-C-Y Place.

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