{"id":5063,"date":"2025-12-11T22:42:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/?p=5063"},"modified":"2025-12-12T00:49:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T00:49:40","slug":"make-sure-your-retirement-village-is-tight-knit-across-generations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/retirement\/make-sure-your-retirement-village-is-tight-knit-across-generations\/","title":{"rendered":"Make sure your retirement village is tight-knit across generations"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5063\" class=\"elementor elementor-5063\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eaa67eb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"eaa67eb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2fbff3a\" data-id=\"2fbff3a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5e76e6 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c5e76e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>B<strong>ringing younger people into a retirement village, where the average age remains 75, is not only a fantastic social event, but it can activate the mind.<\/strong><\/p><p>An intergenerational program is teaching teenagers that genuine connections don\u2019t require Wi-Fi &#8211; just a pair of knitting needles, a ball of wool, and plenty of good humour.<\/p><p>Close-knit friendships have been woven between retirees at Aveo\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au\/vic\/north-east-melbourne\/fountain-court-retirement-living-3929\">Fountain Court<\/a> in Melbourne\u2019s east and local high school students who share stories and laughter while learning the timeless art of knitting.<\/p><p>The Burwood retirement village\u2019s newly refurbished community spaces fill with the sounds of banter and the gentle click of needles, when around 20 students from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mwsc.vic.edu.au\/\">Mount Waverley Secondary College<\/a> join their senior mentors to nurture unlikely friendships built on stitches and yarns.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1dea290 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1dea290\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2bd5e4d\" data-id=\"2bd5e4d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f75ee4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6f75ee4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture6.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5066\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture6.png 601w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture6-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture6-585x390.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e68997f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e68997f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-be0d3e0\" data-id=\"be0d3e0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50db2d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"50db2d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Fountain Court resident Anne Orchard says the sessions are a joy.<\/p><p>\u201cThere\u2019s lots of laughter and chatter. When the students first arrived, they were a bit uncertain, but soon we were chatting about what interested them and sharing our stories. We have developed enduring friendships.\u2019\u2019<\/p><p>For many students, the program which is part of Aveo\u2019s Community Engagement initiative, has sparked an unexpected passion for knitting.<\/p><p>Year 11 student Ben Gray looks forward to the regular gatherings and values the life advice he receives and admits he\u2019s now hooked on knitting.<\/p><p>\u201cKnitting was hard at first but once I finished a row or two, my confidence grew. My mum\u2019s thrilled and she even wants a beanie for Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4bbef7b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4bbef7b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d3d816b\" data-id=\"d3d816b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72f4bf6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"72f4bf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"502\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture7.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5067\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture7.png 601w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture7-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Picture7-585x489.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5d5e2d0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5d5e2d0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f9781f\" data-id=\"3f9781f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60c3509 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"60c3509\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ben says he\u2019s learned a lot about resilience and coping with life\u2019s challenges from the residents.<\/p><p>Students taking part in the intergenerational program, now in its second year, also join residents in games of bingo and working together in Fountain Court\u2019s community gardens.<\/p><p>Campus Principal Matt Sheehan said the students were more enthusiastic during their visits with the residents than any other school-related event.<\/p><p>\u201cI\u2019ve never seen some of these students so engaged. When these two generations come together, they really are solving some of the world\u2019s problems, one stitch and one conversation at a time,\u2019\u2019 Matt said.<\/p><p>Plans are underway to expand the successful program next year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f9a599 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3f9a599\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7910224\" data-id=\"7910224\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4aab3f9 elementor-button-success elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4aab3f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/thedcmgroup.createsend1.com\/t\/y-e-altyktk-l-w\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Return to Newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bringing younger people into a retirement village, where the average age remains 75, is not only a fantastic social event, but it can activate the mind. An intergenerational program is teaching teenagers that genuine connections don\u2019t require Wi-Fi &#8211; just a pair of knitting needles,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5064,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5063"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5115,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5063\/revisions\/5115"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}