It’s now week 3, and the halfway point of this ground-breaking social experiment; so far, the seniors have bonded with the four-year-old’s and made improvements to their mood and memory.
This week the experiment focuses on building confidence.
A lack of physical, emotional, or social confidence not only isolates our elderly generations but puts them at risk of negative health outcomes. With this in mind Geriatrician Dr Stephanie Ward and aged care physiotherapist Nicola Kertanegara are sending the class on a big excursion to a secret destination at the end of the week.
To prepare them for their outing, the students will undertake a confidence bootcamp, with a series of exercises to help them boost their flagging confidence.
In the classroom this week, the seniors and children alike will have to draw strength and encouragement from one another in the face of uncertainty.
Bold acts of bravery are awarded with tender moments of growth as both generations learn a lesson or two about confidence when faced with an assortment of mystery items to touch, scary reptiles and one shonky donkey.
This week we will also be welcoming the four-year olds’ parents into the classroom to meet the seniors for the first time. Having already formed cross-generational friendships it is the first time our classmates will meet the parents of the children they have bonded with so closely. Rita, Werner, Diana, and John F have all found profound acceptance and encouragement so far in their four-year-old friends and are eagerly awaiting the chance to get to talk to the parents of the kids they adore so much.
Production credits: An Endemol Shine Australia production in association with the ABC. Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds is a format created by CPL Productions for Channel 4 (UK), and distributed worldwide by Red Arrow Studios International. This production was supported by Screen Australia through the COVID-19 Budget Support Fund Program. Executive Producer Debbie Cuell, Series Producer Bethan Arwell-Lewis, CEO Endemol Shine Australia Peter Newman, ABC Factual Manager Julie Hanna, and ABC Head of Factual & Culture Jennifer Collins.
