Thereโs no age limit when it comes to friendship. Age shouldnโt be an issue when it comes to learning, too.
The residents at Kalyra Woodcroft communities in Adelaide were given the opportunity to get back to school.
This happened after a middle school project was started. As the Southern Montessori Middle School opened up its doors on its new campus, it allowed its 60 slots to be filled by the new students.
The project resulted in one of the first integrated aged care and educational facilities in the area.
It allowed the residents to join the students in their school classes. There, they learn more about music, art, and other classroom lessons. The students, on the other hand, are allowed to visit the residents in the nursing home.
The interaction between the school and the nursing home promises a lot of benefits.
Terry Wilby, the director of care of Kalyra Woodcroft, shared:
โIntergenerational programs help to dispel age-related myths and stereotypes. They have been shown to improve older adults health outcomes due to providing them with a greater sense of purpose, exposure to new learnings and increased physical activity. They also benefit from expanded social networks.โ
The engagement between the students and residents involves no set model and that what makes the project more effective.
By visiting the residents and engaging in some of their daily activities, the students are able to develop a greater sense of appreciation not just about life but the wisdom of the elders. It gives them the chance to see things from a different perspective and understand where older people are coming from.
Noel Browne, the principal of the Southern Montessori Middle School, said:
โI really do think as our children get to forge really deep relationships with some of the older people, in their 30s or 40s they will have little memories of a person that talked to them about something they value.โ
The residents, on the other hand, benefit from learning new innovations and technologies from younger people. They are also able to experience increased emotional support which helps improve their health and well-being.
โThey believe that older people will benefit from the life, interest, energy and enthusiasm brought by these wonderful young people and the opportunity to join music lessons, art classes, garden projects or simply the company of younger people,โ the principal added.
Loneliness and the feeling of emptiness are quite common among elders living in nursing homes and they are serious concerns. According to a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesโ study, loneliness and social isolation are linked to a higher risk of mortality in adults, such as those aged 52 and older.
Intergenerational programs, such as this one, can help improve the health outcomes of older adults. It can potentially help with experiencing a greater sense of purpose, overcoming feelings of isolation, and engaging in increased physical activities. It can also help improve the eldersโ quality of life.
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