In the high season, a few Slovenian care homes organise summer day-care for children, aged 5-12 years. The idea was developed last year, within the home Danice Vogrinec (named "best facility for elderly care, including unit for PWD in Europe 2018" by EAN ECREAS, and part of Spominčica‘s Dementia Friendly Spots network). This initiative is part of the project “Intergenerational centre Štajerska”.
Care homes provide day-care on working days from 7 a.m. to 3. p.m, during which time trained animators and volunteers organise thematic and interactive workshops (water games, craftwork, ice picnics, music and dance classes, among others). They also give informative tours inside the facility, so the children can learn and see how the institution operates and what working shifts look like. Children also visit urban parks and libraries. Some of the care-home residents are also able to take part in these day-care sessions, with the children, which contributes to building better intergenerational relationships and bigger social networks for both target groups.
First impressions of the initiative are very promising, with many of the children reporting that they enjoyed listening to the stories older people told them from their younger days. The children’s parents were also positive in their feedback, saying that they knew their children were in safe hands and were having meaningful experiences, as well as having fun. The professionals involved reported less prejudices and stereotypes around ageing, among the children taking part, attributed to the fact the children could see for themselves how the older people and that they could still have a great time together.
