Visiting an aged care home can sometimes be an upsetting experience — seeing elderly people in various stages of mental decline, living out their days under child-like care and supervision.

Key points: Young people with intellectual disabilities visit aged care home twice monthly

Young people with intellectual disabilities visit aged care home twice monthly Staff say program has been 'absolutely fantastic' for residents

Staff say program has been 'absolutely fantastic' for residents Other homes urged to consider similar programs

But amid the somewhat institutional atmosphere at one high-care facility in Melbourne's south-east, a unique activity program is giving residents a renewed sense of vitality.

The magic ingredient: a group of young adults with intellectual disabilities from Wallara, a community support organisation.

Twice a month, since May 2016, young and old have taken part in activities such as balloon volleyball, singing and tai chi at Baptcare's Peninsula View home at Frankston South.

The facility's lifestyle coordinator, Lesley Smith, said her initial apprehension at hosting the visitors disappeared after seeing how well the two groups interacted.

"It's just been absolutely fantastic for our residents," she said.

"Our residents have mild dementia to advanced dementia, so to me, those two conditions marry because neither party shows any inhibition."

School students also visit the aged care home, but Ms Smith said visitors with intellectual disabilities had the most impact on residents because they did not hold back.

"Most of them [school students] will stand back a bit," she said.

"They would not do half the stuff that these young folk do — they wouldn't just call out and say, 'let's do the chicken dance or let's dance to Jingle Bell Rock'."

Residents say interacting with the younger people has brought new life to the home. ( ABC News: James Hancock )

Kids 'join in with our silliness'

Patricia Vivian-Lall is one of more than 100 residents at the aged care home.

The actress and singer, who spent decades performing on the stage and small screen, conceded being in care could get "a bit humdrum sometimes".

But the natural performer in her came alive when she was asked to reprise her role in the musical My Fair Lady by singing I Could Have Danced All Night for the group.

"It's lovely when these kids come in and join in with our silliness — we get on very well," she said.

While Ms Vivian-Lall remained seated, other residents got up to dance with the visitors.

Ms Smith pointed out one smiling woman who she said was usually stony-faced.

Other aged care facilities have been urged to consider a similar program.

As Ms Smith said, the young people's natural qualities were helping provide residents with a better quality of life.

"Even the facility feels different when they're in here," she said.

"They're noisy, they're like kids on Christmas Day at granny's house."