Young and the old sharing the Christmas spirit
SENIOR residents at Ingenia Gardens Geelong and children from Whittington Child and Family Centre are spreading the holiday spirit this year with a Christmas card exchange.
The socially distanced Christmas celebration has been welcomed by Ingenia Garden Geelong Community manager Ann Sayer, who says intergenerational friendships benefit the residents and children. “It’s a wonderful initiative that allows these two groups to interact with each other in a positive way,” she said.
“Our residents absolutely loved the cards and the messages inside brought a smile to everyone’s faces.
“Covid-19 really did disrupt so many aspects of our lives, but it also taught us the importance of social connections – especially for our residents,” Ms Sayer said.
“Being able to write cards to the students helped them feel like an important part of the wider community, staying connected and social.”
Ingenia Gardens Geelong resident Margaret Oates said opening her card from the children at the local daycare centre had been the highlight of her Christmas celebrations.
“My friend and I got together to open our cards and we had a lovely time reading their very sweet messages,” she said. “Some of the residents don’t have grandchildren or their grandchildren live too far away to visit, so I know participating in the card exchange really brightened their day.
“The children all have such different personalities, and this really shone through in the cards they created.
“I’m really looking forward to the day when we can exchange cards in person and do some arts and crafts as well.”