Jill's House: A place where preschoolers and seniors learn from each other

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WTHR) — For thousands of Indiana children, they start the day happy, curious and rambunctious at day care.

At Jill’s House day care is a little different.

The preschool is play-based, project-based learning where children learn by experience.

It is also a place where a child can learn from experience. That involves a memory care wing for people facing dementia, which is located upstairs from the preschool.

"They both have gifts to give each other and to bring those two qualities together provides opportunities they would not have in other places," Nicole Bays said.

That is part of the magic of Jill’s House. It is one of the few inter-generational preschools in the country.

"Sometimes people with memory loss tend to repeat themselves. The children don't care. They are scared of being lonely, helpless and bored and children address all of that. You can't be bored when the children are here."

The building, initially designed to house cancer patients in Bloomington, was named in Jill Behrman’s honor. The new owners, with an entirely new mission, wanted to keep it that way.

"All these intergenerational opportunities coming together because of Jill. Who knew something so tragic could turn into something so wonderful and beautiful," Marilyn Behrman shared.

So in one building it is life at the beginning and at the end with Jill in the middle.

"One doesn't happen without the other. Both are very good by themselves. We have a fabulous preschool and we take really good care of people upstairs, but I think what makes everyone's lives better is when these two worlds come together. That makes the difference I think," Nicole Bays said.

"When I find out they are in Jill's House, I just feel like ‘oh that is the best place. You are in the best place,’" Behrman said.

For more on the services provided at Jill’s House click here.