In an innovative approach to care that bridges the widest gap in the human lifespan, some facilities bring nursing homes (or senior living communities) and daycare centers (for young children) under the same roof. Known as intergenerational shared sites or intergenerational day centers, these setups foster regular, meaningful interactions between elders and children. Far from being mere novelty, they create profound mutual benefits, infusing life, purpose, and joy into what might otherwise feel like isolated institutional environments.
A Living Example: Providence Mount St. Vincent
One of the most celebrated models is the Intergenerational Learning Center at Providence Mount St. Vincent in Seattle, Washington (often called “The Mount”). Since opening its child care program in the early 1990s within the same building as its skilled nursing facility and assisted living, the center has served hundreds of children alongside over 400 older adults. Planned activities—such as storytime, music sessions, crafts, and baking—mix with spontaneous hallway encounters, hugs, and chats. Residents become “grandfriends” to the children, sharing wisdom and receiving affection in return. This setup has become a global model, demonstrating how intentional design can turn co-location into genuine community.
Other notable examples include ONEgeneration in Van Nuys, California, where children join seniors (including those with neurologic conditions) for teatime, bingo, singing, and painting, and facilities like Fairview Manor or programs in Des Moines that emphasize shared spaces for cognitive and physical health gains.
Benefits for Seniors
For older adults in nursing homes or adult day programs, the presence of children acts as a powerful antidote to loneliness and decline. Research consistently shows reductions in depression, isolation, and social withdrawal. Interactions provide purpose—residents feel needed as they read stories, offer gentle guidance, or simply smile at a toddler’s antics. The stimulation boosts mood, encourages physical activity (through movement-based games), and sharpens cognition via conversation and sensory engagement. Many describe the children as “lighting up” their days, restoring a sense of being valued contributors rather than passive recipients of care.
Benefits for Children
Young children gain just as much. Regular exposure to elders builds empathy, patience, and respect for aging and differences. They learn social skills through one-on-one attention that’s harder to provide in standard daycares. Shy children often become more outgoing, while all develop emotional intelligence by navigating wheelchairs, hearing aids, or slower paces. These experiences foster compassion and a positive view of growing older, countering stereotypes and promoting intergenerational understanding early in life.
A Warmer, More Vibrant Atmosphere
The overall environment transforms. Laughter echoes through hallways, holiday events become multi-generational celebrations, and shared spaces like gardens or common areas buzz with life. The facility feels less clinical and more like a true community hub. Beyond emotional perks, these models can be cost-effective—sharing resources like staff, kitchens, or maintenance reduces overhead for both programs. They also aid workforce retention in care sectors plagued by shortages, as employees value family-friendly benefits like on-site child care.
Why These Programs Remain Rare
Despite the evidence, true shared sites number only in the dozens to low hundreds across the U.S. (with Generations United tracking around 15-800 programs depending on definitions, including broader intergenerational activities). Challenges include differing regulations for child and adult care, infection control concerns, building adaptations, and staffing coordination. Yet interest has grown post-pandemic, as awareness of loneliness and isolation has heightened, and providers seek innovative solutions.
In essence, when a nursing home and daycare share a roof, something extraordinary unfolds: love flows in both directions, wisdom is passed along naturally, and two vulnerable groups find companionship and vitality in each other. These rare but inspiring spaces remind us that the very young and the very old have more in common than differences—and that bringing them together can heal, uplift, and enrich everyone involved.
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