Who will make the world better for those with Alzheimer’s? … Children will.
By Steve Winner, Silverado Senior Living Co-Founder/Chief of Culture
and Co-Author of “The Silverado Story – A Memory-Care Culture Where Love is Greater than Fear”
Every day, infants, toddlers, grade-schoolers and teens come to Silverado to make friends with our memory-impaired residents and participate alongside them in activities. We foster this relationship by inviting school and community youth groups to volunteer and by encouraging our employees to bring their children to work.
Our goal is to improve the world for the memory-impaired everywhere. The biggest hurdle in achieving this goal is society’s fear of those with dementia, who are perceived as “different,” “not normal.” The tendency is to isolate them from “normal society,” blighting their spirits and hastening their decline.
But children respond without the constraints of the adult perception of normal. With their open hearts and minds, young people form deep bonds with our residents. Because of this, many have told us that as adults, they will dedicate their careers and volunteer their time toward serving those with dementia.
Through this multi-generational programming we are paving the way for the future healthcare leaders of America and simultaneously breaking the stigma associated with memory-impairment, for future generations.
We invite you to visit our Silverado communities and bring a child with you. In so doing, you can help to change the world.
