Young hands for aged care

Community College Gippsland students are lending their young hands in exchange for old wisdom in an ongoing partnership with local aged care homes, Amberlea and Abbey Gardens.

Budding horticulturalists recently took Amberlea’s green thumb residents on a tour of the hothouse facilities at the CCG Warragul campus, where cuttings taken from the aged care gardens are beginning to germinate.

Horticulture trainer Andrea Tindle said it was wonderful to give the residents a behind the scenes tour, after they had been avidly observing the students’ progress over the past few months.

“Our students are regularly on site at Amberlea and Abbey Gardens, weeding, improving the soil, mulching and planting – all under the watchful supervision of the residents,” Ms Tindle said.

“So many of the residents used to take pleasure in their own gardens. Now their mobility might be limited, but their love of gardening has never waned. In this way, we can be their arms and legs, creating spaces that they really take pride and satisfaction in.”

Ms Tindle said the partnership works on many levels to enrich both the learning experience for the students and the daily lives of the residents.

“Our students are fortunate to learn on a farming property with shared gardens, orchards, hothouses and igloos, but this partnership brings them so much more.

“They are able to gain hands-on experience in gardens with real client expectations. They are exposed to an even wider variety of plants and growing settings and they have the opportunity to learn directly from residents who have many years of growing experience.”

Resident Bill Weaven began a life of farming after working as a greengrocer. Now in his early 90s, Bill enjoys reflecting on his years in a local orchard in Tynong North, planting thousands of fruit trees, including apples, nectarines, peaches and plums, and packing asparagus in Dalmore in the off-season.

Bill has never lost his love for growing edible plants and recently took out first and second place prizes at the Warragul Show with his tomato growing efforts.

“He has a lifetime of wisdom to share and the students love hearing from him,” Ms Tindle said. “There is a social aspect to the work we do, too. We love spending time with the residents and hearing about their experiences.”

The students regularly work with Bill, who lives at Amberlea Aged Care in Drouin, and share in his current passion - the mini orchard, vegetable and herb garden program that services the on-site kitchen.

The horticulture program is the latest aspect in the partnership between CCG, Amberlea and Abbey Gardens, with similar collaborations already underway in individual support (aged care and disability training), hair and beauty.

On the same day as the horticulture tour, four residents indulged in a pamper session in the CCG hair and beauty salon.

The residents enjoyed morning tea with the students before having their hair coiffed and nails painted.

Amberlea lifestyle coordinator Lucy Ackling said the social aspect of the partnership was a really important part of the program.

“We know that feeling connected and supported is a big part of wellbeing. As an older person, it is easy to feel socially isolated. Our visits from the students are another way that we enable our residents to feel included and valued at Amberlea.

“It is such a pleasure to see the residents’ faces light up when the students arrive and take time with them,” Ms Ackling said.