Glenview Community Services chief executive Lucy O'Flaherty, who was recently named Telstra Business Woman of the Year, was invited to speak about this relationship at Early Childhood Tasmania's state branch meeting at Punchbowl on Thursday.

Ms O'Flaherty explained how Glenview worked with Hobart childcare centres to foster intergenerational relationships between children and dementia residents.

"To see the young children coming in after they've been a few times and the nerves have gone ... the visit is really lovely. Just to see that interaction is really quite lovely," she said.

"People forget their pain, forget their worries; they're just present in the moment with the kids. Those therapeutic benefits last for days afterwards."

Children aged 3 and 4 years visit Glenview's residents for singing, craft or just a chat.

And then the tables are turned, with Glenview's residents visiting Benjafield Child Care Centre at Moonah.

"It's the kids' space and they own it. They say 'let me show you this'," Ms O'Flaherty said.

Glenview set up the program after recognising there were few children visiting residential aged care.

"There is nothing in the rule book that says childcare and aged care has to work together, but there is a synergy that makes sense."