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Creating a shared day care service for both children and the elderly together, would be a wonderful way to provide them with more than just a form of "supervision" or "babysitting". Our elderly and young people are not plants or pets; they need more than just "looking after". Like the rest of us, they yearn for stimulation, companionship, attention, challenge, fun, validation, affection, and something to look forward to every day. This would be a wonderful way of fulfilling those needs.

The energy, enthusiasm, curiousity, innocence and humor that only children can possess, can take the elderly's mind off of what might otherwise be a rather boring existence, particularly for those elderly persons whose minds are still quite sharp and longing for stimulation, conversation, and entertainment. Studies have, in fact, proven that the mental and physical condition of the elderly improve significantly when they are around children.

Children have a lot of energy to burn off, and they are always in need of more attention than can reasonably be given them. This would be a great arrangement for any family, but particularly for children who have to go home to an empty house every day after school, or an elderly family member who needs supervsion during the day, wants to volunteer their time, or just seeks companionship.

Younger children could do arts and crafts with the elderly, or books could be read to one another. Children could sing songs or play instruments. The elderly could share their stories and loving wisdom, help children with homework, play cards or board games, or just be a comfort to eachother while quietly watching a television program together. Older children could take walks with the elderly, and each could talk about their day, their lives, their pasts, their futures, their families, their troubles.... just about anything!

Depending on ages, likes and dislikes, schedules, etc., each child and elder can even be specifically matched to one another, to be the other's "special friend". Many children do not have grandparents, and many elderly people have no family at all, and oftentimes, if they do, they rarely get to spend time with them. Sadly, this is the case even if the elder lives in the same house with other family members who are going about their busy day with little thought or consideration of the needs of their elderly relative.

Unfortunately, most people could not afford to pay for a private version of this kind of arrangement. However, despite having neither children nor elderly parents myself, I would gladly pay more taxes to fund a program of this sort and I would hope that others would as well, as it could bring so much good to us as individuals, as families, as communities, and as a nation.

Learn more about this author, Marea E. Johnson.
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