Generations Growing Together - Yampa Valley Medical Center

Doak Walker Care Center and GrandKids Child Care Center have received considerable recognition for their Generations Growing Together programs.

GrandKids is the first child care center in Colorado to be located inside a nursing home. Supervised and spon-taneous activities include one or more age groups of children and the residents of the care center. The Generations Growing Together program serves as a national role model.

Contacts between the generations include activities such as story times, ice cream socials, patio visits, arts and crafts projects and holiday celebrations.

A Special Friends program matches residents with youngsters and their families to promote closer relationships. This gives each participating child and family an opportunity to develop a warm friendship with their Special Friend.

In addition, GrandKids students often interact with residents on an informal basis, when walking through the halls and activity areas throughout the week. Everyone feels young at heart when lively children join the fun.