Old People's Home for 4 year olds

I thought this was not only a delight but really important. It would be good if it had an impact nationally; it's so important that elderly people are not 'put out to grass'.

It was really gratifying that St Monica Trust is to build a nursery in the grounds of one of its retirement communities.

Surely there must be some government department that could get this sort of initiative off the ground, rather than leaving it to local authorities/retirement community providers.

Sorry, that should read 'might do well to take note...'

I too thought it was a wonderful programme. The blurb explained that this has been ongoing in one state in the US for 25 years. I do hope the 'powers that be' were watching and learning what a tonic these children were for the older people.

Age UK who I believe share this GN platform might well take note and lobby parliament!

I took my then 3 year old GD with me when I went to sing at and OP day club; and we stayed for the lunch afterwards. Presence of DGD definitely chirped everyone up!!

Not sure I would have been a volunteer but it does seem to have been successful. Small doses would suit me I think but not full on! I see a lot of my GC and love them dearly - but am quite happy on my own too.

We used to take our little dog in to see mil in her care home .The faces of some of the residents lit up when they saw him and they all wanted to fuss him or hold his lead. Billy (the dog) loved the biscuit crumbs and treats given .
Loved the programme you mention but I always kept my gc away from the dementia wing mil was in as some days we would visit and the atmosphere was tense to say the least . Some residents were aggressive and some had dirty habits with spitting and picking nose and probably worse. Some days it was very jolly but you never knew what you were going in to. Not a place for children in the dementia wing in my opinion and she was not high level dementia, they were in a different place.

I was very impressed with the programme.I visit an elderly friend in a care home once a month and was thinking about asking if I could take some of my grandchildren with me next time.

It was a lovely programme and one hopes that this idea Ttakes off ..i think there was mention of a care home being built with a nursery on site. Hope so.
We all know that small children can bring joy. We took our 4 and 7 year old gc with us to our weekly walking group this week. Most aged between 60 and 84 and they had everyone laughing. It made the post walk lunch a lot of fun.

We really enjoyed watching this and the way the children bonded with the residents,it all went very quiet when the children went until dinner was suggested I was worried all the good work would be undone.The change in Xena,Linda running,Hamish as a sleeping lion,but the tear jerker for me was the lady with the frame walking on her own not able to keep up, one little child went to look for her and walked with "I came to look for you ". I hope the bonds that where made are allowed to continue it was a beautiful experiment

I finished watching this last night. I loved the programme and spent most of the time in tears. I enjoyed Hamish's transformation (although he denied it), and watching Linda running! It did say in the final credits that the children continue to visit. I would like to think that they and their families would become firm friends for life. If I ever have to live in such a place, I hope there will be a similar scheme.

I loved the child who, when asked what happens when someone is really old, said "I think they go to a bungalow"! Had to share that one with DH as we were in our 50's when we moved to our bungalow!

It was lovely - but stating the bleeding obvious I felt - we all know what a light young children bring to our lives and how it brightens us up.

I am just worried about what happens at the end of the experiment. Much plummeting of mood one suspects.

It was a wonderful programme. We watched it with our 11 and 9 year old children. They were totally taken by it and can't wait for the second episode tonight.

I loved it when the little girl was poking Hamish's false leg and then said maybe it would grow back eventually. And the Hamish has gone from hiding behind his newspaper and being unable to walk unaided to ignoring his stick in the excitement to handle the ducklings.

Watching the bored, lonely and waiting to die come back to life was wonderful.

I loved it! They transformed some of the elderly residents in a short time. Especially Ralph and Zena. I was quite moist eyed at times ( and I never cry at TV or films! ) must watch sequel tonight. I do wonder what the children got out of it though - an understanding that the elderly are people , with feelings?

I'm with your mother merlotgran, put me in with all the other grumpy old women ( and men )

It was a brilliant programme I'm looking forward to the rest of it this evening. The children are so lovely, it's nice to see them bringing some happiness to the elderly residents. I hope this great idea is rolled out throughout the UK.

I haven't watched it yet because we have visitors but I can just imagine my mother's reaction if she'd been expected to play with a four year old.

'That's nice, dear.....Now off you go!'

I thought it was delightful. Children of that age are so innocent and come out with such wonderful ways of saying things, they melt your heart.

I think it should happen across the country so that every eldery person in a home can have this little chance of happiness in their life again before it is too late.

my grandaughters other granny owns and runs nursing homes so she spends a lot of time with the elderly ,she is brilliant with them.When her great gran thought she had lost her house keys K told her to "keep calm Nana ,if you had them when you came out you'll have them now ,you haven't opened your bag so it will be in the bottom of it" K is 7 she doesn't get phased when people or animals die as she knows that its part of life and she knows that "old people" sometimes do strange things ,like the old man in the home who set fire to himself with birthday cake candles...he wasn't burned just upset and she could see that he didn't understand why it had happened.She lights up the life of a lot of the old people she sees there .Its a great idea to socialise little ones with the elderly ,they both gain a lot from it

Me too. Presumably they could draft in more children. when this group go to school. The effect on poor grumpy Hamish was a delight when he was playing dead lions.