By Matthew Sims
Age has been no boundary for new friendships between a group of John Henry Primary School students and residents from Cardinia Community Aged Care, with students and the residents meeting up regularly as part of the Aged Care Partnership program.
About 15 students from Grade 4 and 5 met with the residents to celebrate the end of the program on Friday 20 September, complete with a morning tea.
Inspired by the ABC show Old People’s Home for Four Year Olds, John Henry Primary School community engagement assistant principal Fraser Selby said this was the first year the school had participated in the program, with the school’s Foundation students starting in the program earlier in the year.
“I think they’ve really come out of their shell,“ he said.
Each of the participating students got up in front of the residents, staff members, family members and their peers to talk about their experiences taking part in the program, with highlights including a silent disco and a mini Olympics.
Cardinia Community Aged Care resident wellbeing manager Suzannah Stewart said the program had been invaluable to the residents.
“You can just see them come out of themselves,“ she said.
“When they see them on Friday, it’s all they can talk about all weekend.“
