The importance of play for people living with dementia is about creating emotional connections with other people and allowing the freedom to express oneself.
Intergenerational contact improves wellbeing and contributes to a happier more fulfilled life as seen on the recent ABC series “
Old Peoples Home for 4 Year Old’s”. In this program we saw individuals on equal footing and their fears were gradually broken down by the children sharing special times with joy and laughter. The positive health and wellbeing outcomes were indeed measurable.
We saw an opportunity after viewing this program to create something similar in the Port Macquarie area, noting that there are children whose grandparents are removed by distance who gravitate toward older people.
Taking advice from groups such as
Intergenerational Playgroup Australia and in conjunction with local aged care providers, such as St Agnes Hostel, we created a program of weekly visits with mothers and children. It began with a few residents of the facility gathering in the sitting area and the children and older adults broke the ice and formed relationships quickly, learning each other's names engaging with each other and playing together. At each gathering more of the facilities residents came to take part. For some, getting to dress up and interact with the children became the highlight of their week!
The mothers believe it is a valuable experience for all involved, as it teaches children patience, kindness and empathy. For the older adults a sense of joy, playfulness and affinity with the children and parents was gained. In the words of one parent,
“There was a real genuine warmth to the welcome we received each week and a sweet sadness when we left”.
During the group's exchanges, they created artworks, played games, told stories, sang songs and had many serious and playful conversations.
Due to Covid-19 and the social distancing practises at the aged care residence, the group is currently in hiatus. They have been sending pictures to each other as well as artworks and letters and are thinking of how best to organise a drive-by party so the group can see and wave to each other.
The group remains hopeful that they will recommence face to face activities as soon as is feasible.
