U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) recently visited Generations Ashe at the Ashe County Senior Center in West Jefferson, North Carolina to promote inter-generational programming and to discuss the Care Across Generations Act (H.R. 1812), Argentum-supported legislation to provide grants to co-locate childcare centers with long-term care setting in an effort to promote multigenerational care models and connection. Watch the video.
Research shows that intergenerational activities increase the health and well-being of both young and older participants, reduce social isolation, and create cost efficiencies. The concept is also popular—92% of Americans believe intergenerational activities can reduce loneliness across all ages and 85% would prefer care settings that foster intergenerational connections.
Intergenerational connections are critical to combat the “epidemic of loneliness” as described by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. The National Institute on Aging estimates that the adverse health effects of loneliness equal that of smoking 15 cigarettes per day, and the National Academy of Sciences found that social isolation contributed to a 50% increased risk of developing dementia and a 59% increased risk of functional decline.
Critically, a significant portion of the senior living workforce are parents with childcare needs; on-site childcare services would help to support these workers.
The Care Across Generations Act would promote intergenerational activities and connections within these facilities by providing grants to operate or contract with childcare programs, coordinate multigenerational activities, and potentially build or expand facilities to accommodate these programs. Argentum commends Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) and Bryan Steil (R-WI) for their continued leadership of this important piece of legislation and urges Congress to pass the bill.
