So what do older folks
and very young children
have in common?
Wait.
This isn't a joke.
It's a problem.
The families of more than
30,000 kids
across Wisconsin
can't find child care.
And by the end of the decade
there will be an increase
of more than
40% of state residents
who are 75 years old or older
and they'll need help too.
So the common problem
facing these two age groups
is a lack of care options.
There simply isn't
enough child care or
enough programs and facilities
for older adults.
But there is a movement
to bring these
two groups together
to share space
and social connection called
intergenerational care.
While it's been around
for a while
there are new programs
popping up around the state.
Intergenerational care can take
many different forms.
Sometimes it's older adults
reading to young children
and other times
it's teens helping seniors
with technology.
Research shows that
both of these age groups
benefit from these
intergenerational interactions
physically, mentally
and emotionally.
I'm Steven Potter, a reporter
with PBS Wisconsin news.
To find out more about these
intergenerational care programs
and why they're
gaining popularity
around the state
find my story about it at
pbswisconsin.org.