Young and old together
Playgroup brings smiles to aged care
IT LOOKS like any other childcare group – children singing, painting and drawing under a blue sky – but for one big difference.
This childcare facility on the NSW Central Coast is changing the lives of children and the residents of the Bateau Bay Bupa Aged Care centre where it is held.
“All the residents get a lot out of it but particularly the dementia patients,” playgroup organiser Angela Johns said.
“It’s really amazing to see – it touches something in them.
“As soon as they see the children, or especially a baby, their faces soften and light up.
“And the workers report it has a real flow-on to their mood and recognition.”
Ms Johns’ own children, Mia and Max, attended the Montessori-styled playgroup, Bateau Bay Nurture the Child, which started 18 months ago, initially paying visits to the aged centre before this year calling it home.
“I felt like there was more we could do,” Ms Johns explained.
“If you don’t go frequently enough, you don’t form those relationships that we have now, where we all know each other and the regulars are sitting waiting for us to arrive.”
Group time involves about 20 residents sitting outside enjoying the sun while children from eight to 10 families paint and draw.
This is followed by about 20 minutes of young and old alike singing familiar songs and saying nursery rhymes with movements, finishing with a goodbye song.
Ms Johns said the residents always had pictures to take back to their rooms, while the children loved sitting on the residents’ laps to have stories read to them.
“The residents think it’s incredible all the things the kids do and they even like it when the kids play up, it makes them laugh – for them it’s reality and it reminds them of their kids, when they had moments too,” she said.
“I think actually both groups enjoy the attention and having a captive audience.”
And, she said, the children essentially “don’t see the dementia or recognise anything unusual”.
Ms Johns is starting her own Montessori training and hopes the success at Bateau Bay could see the program spread.
“I feel really blessed to be in this space to do this, because it’s not hard but it’s so rewarding for everyone and the residents are so grateful,” she said.