By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
IT’S an inter-generational fortnightly excursion and it puts a smile on everyone’s face.
Casey Aged Care residents have the opportunity to read, play, talk and learn with the children at King Kids Childcare and Kindergarten every fortnight.
The bonding experience has been operating for nine months since the Medical and Aged Care Group (MACG) bought Casey Aged Care.
Manager at the care facility Kathleen Nicholls said her residents “absolutely love it”.
“It’s been beautiful for our residents, they come back beaming and the connection has been so beneficial for them and the children,” Ms Nicholls said.
“Our residents can reminisce the years they spent with their own young grandchildren and children and it’s so lovely for them to have a giggle, they have also become quite attached to the kids.”
But the attachment goes both ways, Ms Nicholls said the residents get a warm wave goodbye each visit.
“The children go running out to the fence line and wave goodbye as they yell out ‘bye nanny’,” she said.
Due to the strong friendship formed between the elderly residents and children Ms Nicholls said MACG is looking to start the program at other aged care facilities.
“The parents adore it and stay especially with their younger children to spend time with our residents,” she said.
About five elderly residents get to go around the corner to King Kids each fortnight but not to the dismay of all the others that put their hand up.
“They get to have morning tea with the children as well and when we ask who wants to go the hands go up straight away – we have to rotate it, we have a list because they all love it so much,” Ms Nicholls said.
