While the
elderly would not have the special training of the early-childhood
teachers, they would be a supplement to, not a substitute for, staff.
Parents and grandparents, after all, don't need diplomas. Conversely,
some day-care adults might have ambulatory problems that call out to
children who have an intrinsic energy and desire to help. None is
prouder than the child who has helped do something for someone else.
Voluntary Participation
Walk through a model dual day-care center for a moment. Most
facilities for children wouldn't need to be modified, and adult centers
would need only slight modifications. One room for adults, one for
children, and a shared recreation room, eating room and yard. Simple.
Now, how popular could the idea become? Given half a chance, most
elderly in day-care centers would enthusiastically welcome the idea.
With voluntary participation, concern about temperament compatibility
need not be a problem. But how would working mothers respond to
this? How could they be convinced?
To promote the idea, working mothers could be offered half-price
subsidies as an experiment, providing the initial incentive.
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