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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the Human Development Commission would receive a $350,000 loan for the construction of an intergenerational daycare facility. The Office of Rural Development, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, awarded the loan to the Human Development Commission (HDC) to provide daycare assistance to the elderly and young children.
“The new daycare facility will ultimately provide a structured and safe environment for the elderly and young children,” said Kildee. “This facility will provide families with better access to support services, which will help alleviate some of the difficulties associated with providing constant care. Most importantly, the facility will provide seniors and children with an opportunity to learn and interact with one another during structured activities.”
Mary Ann Vandemark., Executive Director of the Human Development Commission, said that: “HDC is deeply grateful for this loan from the Office of Rural Development, and we surely appreciate the support of Congressman Kildee.” “We plan to make the most of this opportunity”, she added, “by providing a new level of service for seniors and children alike. Our mission is to help people and change lives, and that is just what we hope to do with this facility.”
The Rural Developments funds will be used specifically for the construction of an intergenerational daycare facility that serves older adults who have functional limitations due to Alzheimer’s and related dementia disorders, as well as young children. The facility design includes separate “centers” for each day care population with a shared common space for structured intergenerational activities. Each center would be able to care for 20 children and 20 adults serving many families that are unable to obtain care after traditional work hours. A construction timetable has yet to be set, but completion is targeted for late 2004. |
