LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – As the Hillview Health Care Center continues work on their remodel, the updated center will include a daycare. The daycare will also operate as an intergenerational center, which allows people of different generations to engage with each other.
The intergenerational center will be the first of its kind in the area.
“There’s a lot of benefits with kids working with adults. It’s very fulfilling not just for the kids, but for the adults as well. It keeps them active, engaged with their community. Interacting with a different generation has a lot of great benefits. It’s pretty unique to provide that opportunity for not only the families of the children, but also for caregivers and adults with dementia,” La Crosse County ADRC manager Carissa Pagel-Smith.
Following a competitive process, the YWCA was selected as the childcare provider for the intergenerational center.
“We have had lots of conversations with a lot of providers up to this point. It’s great to have a provider selected so we can move forward and start operationalizing what his all means. They are very innovate and collaborative. We’re looking forward to continuing those conversations as we develop what the center is all about,” says Pagel-Smith.
YWCA executive director Rosanne Northwood says they applied to be the care provider because diverse options are needed to meet the child and adult care needs of local families.
“We have lots of families that still need childcare and aren’t able to find something that fits for them. Our mission is to empower all folks, honor the dignity of all individuals, and to be able to offer care and a setting where we can foster relationships between older adults and young childcare children,” says Northwood.
Pagel-Smith says the goal of the intergenerational center is to meet the needs of a variety of individuals in the area.
“We want to meet and address childcare needs as well as respite opportunities for caregivers in our area and blend those services under one roof and provide a unique opportunity experience for many people in our community,” says Pagel-Smith.
According to La Crosse County, the intergenerational center is expected to be open in December 2025.
Copyright 2024 WEAU. All rights reserved.
La Crosse County selects childcare provider for upcoming Hillview intergenerational center
