What do you get when you combine older adults, parrots, and preschoolers?

A fun day in the neighborhood! More specifically, the AgeWell Atlanta Neighborhoods Program (Neighborhoods). Neighborhoods creates opportunities for older adults to find connection to each other and their greater community through social and educational programming, plus fun events. This was one of their more colorful mornings.

For a special intergenerational Koffee & Kibbitz gathering, Neighborhoods partnered with Congregation Etz Chaim’s preschool to welcome the Georgia Aviary. The parrot rescue and sanctuary brought in their stunning exotic birds, which evoked childlike delight from everyone.

One older adult participant chuckled and shared that it had “been years” since she had seen a parrot.

“Whoa!” exclaimed the preschoolers as they examined the exotic birds.

“Watching the seniors’ faces light up when they were interacting with both the birds and the kids was really special,” said Ashley Maloy, LMFT, Program Manager for Agewell Atlanta Neighborhoods. “Increasing their sense of connection to others and reducing social isolation is our main goal.”

During the Koffee & Kibbitz gathering, Neighborhoods participants also learned about volunteer opportunities at the preschool, creating another pathway to connect with the community. Moments like these are at the heart of AgeWell Atlanta Neighborhoods’ work.