Center Bridges Gap Between Columbus' Oldest, Youngest Residents

The Near East Side to Champion Intergenerational Enrichment and Education Center in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the country's first places offering day services for children and older adults, reports the Columbus Dispatch . Champion is an alliance between Columbus Early Learning Centers, a nonprofit education provider for children six months to five years old; National Church Residences, a nonprofit group that offers senior housing and services; and Ohio State University. One side of the center resembles a senior community, with tables, health exam rooms, and dice games, while the other side is similar to a preschool, with a playground, classroom, and hallways covered with art projects. Spanning between them is a multipurpose room with a stage and a kitchen. Programs that combine generations boast many benefits, according to a study from Ohio State, the Eisner Foundation, and Generations United. Seniors experience better physical and mental health, while younger participants learn more, develop better socially, and gain more positive perceptions of older adults. Ohio State's Elizabeth Speidel says no interactions are forced upon the groups.