HENBROOK House, an all-inclusive luxury care home in St Neots, took a group of local children to Hamerton Zoo Park for a day of heartwarming fun.
The residents enjoyed sharing their knowledge and love of animals with the enthusiastic youngsters who got to see bears, tigers, alpacas, turtles and meerkats on their tour.
The outing was organised in partnership with three local childminder groups based in St Neots which regularly visit Henbrook House. Since these weekly visits started last year, the residents and kids have made fast friends – regularly swapping stories, games, wisdom and laughter.
Brian Moore, events manager at Henbrook House, said: “The zoo trip was a fantastic way for our residents to share their love of animals with the newest generation.
“The time spent interacting with each other every week has been precious for both the kids and the residents, and this outing was a great way to solidify that bond. We can’t wait to organise many more fun activities in the coming months.”
These kinds of intergenerational connections are crucial to Henbrook House’s care philosophy. Research shows that regular intergenerational engagement can help reduce anxiety, improve social connectedness, and encourage more physical activity in older adults.
One study found such activities can give care home residents a sense of purpose and stronger life satisfaction by allowing them to play an important role in helping children develop.
Nor are the benefits limited to older adults. Spending time interacting with elders can help children learn crucial skills like empathy, emotional intelligence, and active listening.
One meta-analysis showed that children in intergenerational programs show improvements in empathy, tolerance, and social inclusion – and are linked to reduced anxiety and an improved sense of self-worth.