Provena Intergenerational Center Will Care for Seniors and Children
health care, holistic health care, provena, st. mary’s hospital,
Many miles often separate grandparents from their grandchildren‚ but soon that won’t be the case with “surrogate” grandparents and children living in Kankakee.
The Provena Intergenerational Center is now under construction on the campus of Provena Heritage Village in Kankakee and is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2005. The building will feature two sections – one for a day care center that can accommodate up to 129 children‚ and the other for an adult center than will welcome up to 40 senior citizens.
The facility will be open to children ages 6 weeks to 12 years‚ and senior citizens ages 60 and older.
“We will be combining the current Provena Fortin Villa Learning Center and the Provena St. Mary’s Adult Day Center‚ so that they will co-exist in one building under the name of Provena Intergenerational Center‚” says Connie March‚ president/CEO of Provena Senior Services.
Interaction between children and seniors is part of the center’s overall mission.
“At a certain time each day‚ the seniors will help some of the children with their homework‚ read stories to the little kids‚ play on computers together and so forth‚” March says. “Both age groups will benefit greatly from this type of interaction.”
March believes that the senior citizens will especially benefit from socializing with the children.
“Loneliness and depression are common causes of older adults spiraling downward with their health‚” she says. “Studies show that when senior citizens interact with children on a regular basis‚ the seniors tend to eat better‚ take their medicine as prescribed‚ and improve health-wise. They get into a positive life spiral which often enables them to stay in their home setting for a longer period of time – perhaps forever.”
March adds that the children‚ too‚ benefit from the overall experience.
“The kids tend to build up their social skills‚ and their schoolwork often improves‚” she says. “Children also give unconditional love to the seniors‚ which is good for both parties.”
Kankakee seniors can be recommended for the upcoming program at Provena Intergenerational Center by family members‚ neighbors or physicians or can apply themselves.
“Having this type of facility in our community completes the continuum of Provena health‚ allowing us to provide services completely in a holistic manner‚” says George Miller‚ president and CEO of Provena St. Mary’s Hospital.
“The fact that we are combining children with seniors speaks very strongly to our mission statement‚ which focuses on building communities of healing and hope by responding in the spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Stephen Cherry
