But the Mercy Health Bethlehem activities assistant says one of the most revolutionary has taken place this year since a local child care centre started regular play dates with the elderly residents.

“It creates such a wonderful atmosphere, all the activity and all the happy and laughing children puts such a smile on our residents’ faces,” she said.

Ms Curnow said the nursing home was at the forefront of a push toward intergenerational care.

“This is virtually a new idea, we’re seeing other nursing homes doing it too, and as the benefits are so clear I think we’ll see it bigger hospitals take a similar line,” she said.

“I think we will see this much more widely adopted and it’s great we’re helping lead the charge.”

Occasional play dates between the residents and pre-kinder children were held over the last 12 months, but are now a fortnightly fixture. 

And the aged-care worker said both the Blue Bird Early Education children and the Mercy Health residents benefited greatly from their fortnightly play dates.  

“Many of the residents miss their grandchildren greatly and so for them it’s great to see children at play,” Ms Curnow said.

“They’re always smiling after the visit, just the visual aspect watching children is such great entertainment, but it’s not just entertainment there is the social aspect too.

“For the little ones, they’re naturally attracted to a willing audience, so the children come up to the residents to show off different things and play games.”

Blue Bird Golden Square centre manager Kate McDonald said the dozen pre-kinder children loved their visits to Mercy Health.

The kids really look forward to going up there and getting them out into the community really brings social and emotional benefits to the children,” Ms McDonald said.

Before each visit, the children and residents decided on a theme for the play date, she said. Last time it was mini-Olympics, complete with ping pong and spoon races and bean bag throwing competitions. 

Next up is a book week theme, with children dressing up as their favourite characters and taking books to read with the residents.

Ms Curnow said she looked forward to the model being more widely adopted. 

“I’ve seen lots of changes for better in aged-care over 40 years, but this ranks very highly,” she said. 

“Anything that brings so many smiles to the residents’ faces has got to be a great thing.”