Bridging The Gaps
Could bridging the gaps between generations create new opportunities for improving wellbeing?
-The background
As the survey of European Communities organization that about 5 million old age in EU with certain risk factors for health and well-being such as the loss of social support from families and friends and the emergence of physical. Policy makers are invited to provide measures to promote mental health and well being among older people receiving care in both community and institutional settings. In another aspect, as the surveys of NIDCD, some mental problems like autism are common in 8-10 years old children. To avoid or treat this, the specialist suggested that parents and other family members should become part of the child’s daily life. The education writer David Soble has identified seven “play motifs” to prove the intimate relationship between children and nature. Besides, the old people can not take good care of their grandchildren when they take the exercise because the facility for old people and children are separated.
-The current situation in Dundee
I did the observation in the Baxter Park in Dundee and interview some of the local residents. The Baxter Park has two large park which are a huge lawn and a ground with some facilities for children. The majority of older people were playing with the dog on the lawn and children were more likely to clime the play frame by themselves. Some older people told me that they feel lonely and miss their grandson sometimes. But they cannot play together because the older people afraid of the high frame and their no other activities can gather them. The children told me that their parents always too busy to play with them in the park. Their grandparents have spare time but they are not interested in the children’s game. Therefore, the children feel lonely as well.
-What I intend to do?
I intend to build an outdoor environment and use my ideas to gather this two groups and improve their wellbeing as well.
Project aims
Strengthen communication between elderly people and children through outdoor play and exercise.
Potential outcomes
Transforming the Baxter park to put the two groups together through the method like put the elderly people fitness equipments and children play facilities together, educated activities and story telling club, etc. And of course, the landscape elements will be well-designed in creative ways to attract their interesting and promote their communication.
Key words:
Old people
Children
Communication
Fitness equipments
Wellbeing
Landscape elements
References:
1.http://www.dundeepartnership.co.uk/sites/default/files/LocheeCommunityPlan.pdf
Lochee community plan summary
2. http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/6/826.short
Understanding participation in sport and physical activity among children and adults: a review of qualitative studies
Physical Activity Levels and Patterns of 9- and 15-yr-Old European Children
4. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01426399908706564
Children describe their experiences of the city centre
5.
Baxter Park, Dundee | UK Landscape Award 2010
6.http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/environment/balgayvictoria/
Dundee city government information
7.http://www.colfinder.net/materials/Child_Health_Course/doc/CH_Unit_17_MentalH.doc
8.http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/mental/docs/consensus_older_en.pdf
BIO:
Her name is Jie Chen and she come from China. Her major is Landscape Architecture Design. She began to learn landscape design in 2006 and this five years courses like architectural design and urban plan exposed her to the landscape architecture and gave her the practical experience in design as well.
She likes design and innovation things because it’s really an exciting thing to use her design ideas to make people’s life more comfortable and convenient. During her study, she recognized that it was very important to open eyes and practice creative thinking for design, so she intended to enhance her design skills and achieve a new higher level at the landscape design industry in Scotland. Besides, she believe that Landscape Architecture have great prospects and will be improving people’s life in a broad range.
The University of Dundee is a registered Scottish Charity, No: SC015096
