In the multi-generational house in Blankenburg, football takes place while sitting. 92-year-old Werner Bannasch and other residents of the nursing home in the Harz have already sat down in two rows across from each other in the garden when the children from the integrated daycare rush outside.
“Sitting football,” calls a child. There is a brief scramble for the last free spot - but everyone is allowed here. “The best thing is the games we play,” says Bannasch. "There's always something going on." His own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren live outside Blankenburg. But in the multi-generational house, he and the other residents come into contact with the daycare children on a daily basis.
At mealtimes, they have the choice between the meeting place and quieter, more secluded rooms. And there are activities together at least once a week: sitting football, baking, walks and there is even a Kneipp pool in the garden.
“Surprise moments” when singing together
The idea for daycare and care under one roof initially came about out of necessity. There weren't enough children for the daycare center with 100 places, and the provider's care facility no longer met the requirements. The merger has proven successful - for almost 20 years now, says facility manager Doreen Irrgang: "Aging healthily has a lot to do with social contacts."
Regular encounters with the children activate the nursing home residents, she observes. Even if a dementia process is already in motion, many memories are awakened. “Especially when we sing songs with the children, they join in,” says Irrgang. "It's always such a surprise moment, it's really heartwarming."
Emotions can influence dementia
To date, there has been little research into how contact with children specifically affects aging. But it's not just lifestyle factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes that have a decisive influence on the risk of dementia. “Social contacts in and of themselves are generally protective,” emphasizes dementia researcher Francisca Rodriguez. At the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) she heads the research group for psychosocial epidemiology and public health.
According to DZNE estimates, the number of people suffering from dementia is likely to rise to 2.7 million by 2050. In 2023 there were still 1.8 million. The disease is therefore more common than the most common individual tumor types.
Are multi-generational projects the answer to increasing the social integration of very old people and those in need of care and ultimately postponing the onset of dementia? Rodriguez sees at least indications that dealing with children can have a positive effect here. Research continues to show exciting results, especially regarding the role of emotions. When dancing, making music and doing creative activities, effects can be observed "that could have an important influence on well-being, the course of dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms," explains the scientist. But we still don't really understand what that is.
Sustainable financing for projects is helpful
Whether it's a nursing home and a daycare center under one roof or other opportunities to meet neighbors: Sustainable financing for such projects always makes sense, says Rodriguez. "If you can actively maintain participation through such projects and also reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms and possibly also maintain individual performance for longer, then health costs in general will fall again."
The costs associated with dementia are enormous: According to the DZNE, direct medical costs alone were around 38 billion euros in 2023. The informal - i.e. unpaid - care provided by relatives accounted for a further 45 billion euros.
Combination of daycare and care has so far been rare
There are only a few facilities like the multi-generational house in Blankenburg across Germany. In Weißenfels, for example, the German Red Cross operates a multi-generational campus, in Halle, a nursing home run by the Paul Riebeck Foundation and a Montessori primary school cooperate closely, and in Cunewalde, Saxony, a new building is currently being built that will combine crèche and day care starting next year.
The head of the multi-generational house in Blankenburg emphasizes that it is not just the elderly who benefit from being together. The children learned how to deal with old age and the need for care in a natural way - with grief and death, but also the beautiful sides of aging: for example, when residents of the nursing home make new friends or even a new partnership.
Interfaces require more staff
After almost 20 years, the staff in the different areas has grown well together, explains Irrgang. The fact that the daycare center and the nursing home share the same provider makes some things easier to organize than if two providers had to join forces. Nevertheless, she would like for houses like hers to think about the interfaces in addition to the care key and teacher key. More staff are needed for this.
The waiting list for the multi-generational house in Blankenburg is certainly long. Ingrid Schrader also initially went to another nursing home before she found a place here. The former baby nurse only sees advantages. Of course the children are sometimes loud - "but when it's called 'be quiet', then they do that too. They're very well behaved." The 89-year-old and four-year-old Meena next to her smile briefly at each other.
