At this care home, 70-year-olds with Alzheimer’s and school kids are meeting up to talk, laugh and play – and the results are amazing

Social interaction can work wonders for people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s — and children can be particularly helpful, as one Dublin school and day centre have found out by collaborating

The Orchard Care Centre paid a visit by The Children's House Primary Montessori

Azmia Riaz

Once a week, The Orchard Day Centre in Blackrock erupts with laughter and delightful conversations between two very far apart generations. Here, students aged nine to 12 from Children’s House Primary Montessori work with people over 70 with Alzheimer’s disease by using basic learning materials such as colouring books, crafts and puzzles.

Left to their own devices for two hours, they spark conversations, swap stories and learn lasting life lessons.