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Intergenerational daycare aiming to strengthen bonds between kids and ‘grandfriends’

On Dec. 20, 2025, Andrew Fleck Children's Services and Perley Health unveiled a purpose-built intergenerational daycare at Perley Health's long-term care campus, set to open next year.
The joint project builds on existing intergenerational models to establish fully integrated child care with seniors on site, motivated by research linking intergenerational programming to higher engagement, reduced loneliness, and improved mood at Perley Health and Andrew Fleck Children's Services.
Designed to be dementia- and kid-friendly, the centre features sound-absorbing rooms, calm lighting and clear sightlines, with activities like collage-making and baking that give residents a sense of purpose, Lakeshore Lodge manager Mark Lundrigan said.
Perley says the centre should help recruit and retain long-term care staff, prioritizing spaces for workers that Wood and his wife expect to be quickly claimed, limiting community access next year.
Perley Health's research arm will track outcomes and share findings, while Kim Hiscott, CEO of Andrew Fleck Children's Services, notes Toronto long-term care homes already house daycares, signaling a growing trend.

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