GRIFFITH University is investigating models to combine child care with dementia respite centres using an intergenerational approach which is already proving successful overseas.
Griffith business school researcher Professor Anneke Fitzgerald said the team had begun a nationwide investigation into the best options for building an Australian-first age-friendly care community.
Newly-proposed childcare projects in south east Queensland have already been flagged as potential venues for the innovative new model.
"We believe the quality of life of both young and old can be positively affected by mixing their care in an intergenerational setting," Professor Fitzgerald said.
"This is a very under-researched area, but we know the health and wellbeing of older people can be maintained and improved through social interaction.
"There are also potential benefits to be explored for people with dementia who spend time with young children."
The Griffith team is examining a range of possible intergenerational care models with input from industry players including child care centre directors, aged care facility managers, consumer groups and policy makers.
"Our preliminary study suggests that there is a gap to be filled and we believe this is an innovative approach that could generate social capital rather than isolate a section of the population," she said.
"It could save the government a lot of money.
"It incorporates an important educational component while also helping to delay institutionalisation and slow cognitive decline."
Fellow researcher Dr Katrina Radford said the idea of mixing young and old was not new.
"But the idea of mixing aged care and child care in a formal program is in its infancy," she said.
"In this respect we are trying to change social policy in Australia."
Nationally, the number of people living with dementia is expected to climb from 267,000 in 2011 to one million by 2050.
Griffith team member Dr Nerina Vecchio said while the take-up of current respite care options was "relatively poor", that was expected to change dramatically as demand grew and increasingly innovative options were needed.
"Carers of people with dementia need more care than any other carers," Dr Vecchio said.
"Respite care is an important service that creates a supportive environment for those caring for people living with dementia by providing them with a break from their caring responsibilities.
"Already the characteristics of existing services appear inadequate.
"Our aim is to create more choice for consumers in an environment where the options are very limited and where demand for the service is about to increase immensely."
