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By Heather Main Brandishing a toy dinosaur, three-year-old Emmie Hannigan throws back her head and roars. RAF veteran Ian Wheelton, 84, clutching a stegosaurus, roars back and Emmie, squealing with delight, throws herself into his arms. They could be mistaken for grandad and grandchild. But Emmie and Ian are in fact “grand-friends” at Belong Chester, a pioneering integrated care home and nursery where the generational mix helps old and young. Children’s speech, confidence and general knowledge is boosted by time with their grand-friends. For the older people – who live in self-contained or sha…

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