Here in the Czech Republic there are many discussions about how there is not enough money for the elderly (almost all of whom lost what little they had during the transition away from communism due to changes in currency). Simultaneously, there is a lot of discussion about the lack of spots in pre-schools. And I also see that many elderly people are quite lonely. I think it would be a great idea to create combined elderly pre-school centers. You could attend if you were under the age of 7 or over the age of 70. Morning would be breakfast time, where the elderly and the very young would eat together. Then there would be play time, when the elderly could chat and watch as the children played. Then there could be lunch time. And after lunch, the elderly and the very young could sing songs. Then there could be some excersize time, which would mostly teach the kids to sit still and follow directions, while enticing the elderly to do some stretching. And then the kids would go home. And the elderly could perhaps sleep up-stairs.

I do not think this would harm the children, and I think that many old people would be much happier in such a setting.