Gortacharn Care Home Bridges The Age Gap With Linking Generations NI
As part of its partnership with Linking Generations NI, Gortacharn Care Home in Fermanagh, which is owned by Dunluce Healthcare, has completed a series of impactful intergenerational activities aimed at bridging the gap between older and younger people in the community.
To mark Global Intergenerational Week, Gortacharn collaborated with three local primary schools – St. Ronan’s Primary School, The Moat Primary School, and Bunscoil an Traonaigh – for planting and gardening sessions, collaborative arts and crafts, musical performances and more.
Each school brought a focus group of pupils aged 6–8 years old, who visited the care home for two to three sessions each
Speaking on the initiative, Ryan Smith, Chief Executive at Dunluce Healthcare, said:
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of an initiative that not only promotes positive well-being amongst our residents but will ultimately have a lasting impact.
“Ensuring quality care for our residents is a top priority, and we are pleased to be involved with an initiative that will foster community connections and meaningful relationships.
“Dunluce Healthcare has already seen the benefits of intergenerational socialisation through past projects in which local school children have visited our homes, and we look forward to developing this further.”
Elaine Brownlee, Development Worker from Linking Generations NI, said:
“Linking Generations NI have been delighted to support Gortacharn Care Home recently, to engage in regular intergenerational activities, to strengthen community bonds between their residents and pupils from surrounding schools.
“After successfully securing funding during both Christmas Connections 2024 and All Ages April 2025 small grants scheme, the team in the care home have really embraced the opportunities to bring generations together in mutually beneficial activities that help tackle ageism and reduce loneliness and social isolation.”
“We believe that these connections are a critical element to making local communities more cohesive and encourage all care settings to explore the benefits of taking an intergenerational approach to their everyday activities.”
Speaking about Global Intergenerational Week, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor John McClaughry, said:
“Fermanagh and Omagh District Council actively promotes positive ageing through a variety of programmes, activities and events to ensure that our older residents lead independent, engaged and socially connected lives.”
“I was delighted to hear about Gortacharn Care Home’s intergenerational work which is a shining example of how we can change the way we age.”
“By connecting older people, we can reduce isolation and provide older people with opportunities to share, engage and thrive.”
“Initiatives like this reflect our belief that by creating a space for generations to come together, we can make a difference to the lives of everyone by strengthening communities, providing opportunities to learn from each other and improving overall health and wellbeing.”
