Connecting Seniors and Youth

Preventive Aging Centers, Inc. is a non-profit organization co-founded in 1992 by Timothy B. Cassidy, its Executive Director, and Grace Powers Monaco. Its mission is to provide free wellness and intergenerational programs to senior citizens in the community. The interaction of older seniors and children is mutually beneficial, with the following results:

Personal growth and clarifies values
Improve personal and family relationships
Understand and appreciate diversity
Become better supporters and leaders
Learn specific skills
Have fun
Augment or replace grandparents and/or grandchildren

The program connects children from local child care centers, day camps, area schools, YMCA’s, Boy and Girl Scout Troops and other local youth centers with senior citizens who predominately reside in nursing facilities. Many seniors are not ambulatory and are “trapped” by medical complexities. For them the joy and companionship the children provide is immeasurable. Preventive Aging Centers focuses their efforts on collaborative programs within local community Head Start Programs. In this program the children are willing participants and parents are encouraged to get involved in helping at various events. Head Start staff and parents are ideal volunteers for this program, as well as in other capacities, at long term care facilities thus limiting the need for additional staff at the facility.

During these visits the two groups participate in a variety of activities including craft projects, coloring contests, sing-a-longs, sharing and telling stories and a wide variety of games. Participants also get together for several special events throughout the year, such as holiday luncheons. Residents who look forward to visits and correspondence from their “foster grandchildren” show more positive attitudes and memory improvement than non-participating residents.

Preventive Aging Centers mission is to assist operators of health care facilities establish their own Preschool/Senior Companion Program. Information for operators on how to establish this program is available at no cost.