Staff and Community Impact

Intergenerational Early Learning Centre Opens

As this Report goes to press, an innovative project gets underway that promises to benefit young children and their parents, along with Perley Health staff, residents and tenants. The Andrew Fleck Children's Services Intergenerational Early Learning Centre at Perley Health provides licenced childcare to 49 infants and toddlers, along with daily programs for children to interact with Veterans and Seniors.
“This is ideal for me and my family,” says Stephanie Deschamps, who works at Perley Health as Care Coordinator, Assisted Living Services. “It's incredibly convenient having childcare at my place of work and I'm sure that my daughter benefits from structured, daily interaction with older adults.”

The idea for the Intergenerational Early Learning Centre emerged from a partnership between Perley Health and Andrew Fleck Children's Services (AFCS), a non-profit specializing in childcare and early learning. Three years ago, the partners initiated a pilot project: an intergenerational playgroup that had children, accompanied by a parent or guardian, visit Perley Health and interact with residents and tenants with the support of Early Childhood Educators and Personal Support Workers. The success of the pilot inspired Perley Health to ask the Foundation to launch a campaign - Bridging Generations - to raise funds to support the design and construction of a purpose-built addition to the Perley Health campus. The campaign is closing in on its $2 million target.

The Intergenerational Early Learning Centre is the focus of several research studies conducted by the Perley Health Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care™. The research will explore a range of topics, such as the impacts of intergenerational programming on quality of life, and the attitudes of residents, tenants and families about the Intergenerational Early Learning Centre. Studies of similar programs have found numerous benefits for both seniors and children, including improvements in health, social engagement and emotional well-being.

Perley staff enjoy priority access to the Intergenerational Early Learning Centre.

“Adding a childcare centre run by a respected organization like Andrew Fleck makes the Perley even more attractive for jobseekers with young children,” says Deschamps.

Stephanie Deschamps, Care Coordinator, Assisted Living Services at Perley Health and daughter Hannan Moberg visit with Senior Living tenant Bea Seal.