Young and old strengthen life skills

SOME of Ballarat East’s closest neighbours may be far apart in age, but they’ve become good friends.

Once a week during school terms, Woodmans Hill Secondary College VCAL students walk over to Ballarat Health Services’ Geoffrey Cutter Centre, an aged care facility, to bond and help one another.

VCAL Coordinator and Literacy Teacher, Patrick Cleary initially organised the visits three years ago, to strengthen his pupils’ speaking and listening skills.

Now students are developing personally, incorporating their studio art and wood technology work, and are engaging the residents in new ways.

Most people living at the GCC have cognitive and physical deficits, so the students have developed activities to do together, following the Montessori approach.

“Pioneered by Dr Maria Montessori, it’s a method of education based on hands-on learning that engages cognitive function, fine and gross motor skills, sensory engagement, and a sense of achievement,” Mr Cleary said.

“It was designed for use with young children, however in recent times, the value of this approach in working with the aged, and those with dementia, is gaining real traction.”

Montessori activities champion strengths, abilities and interests, are aesthetically pleasing with bright colours, texturally diverse, and most are easily accessible in open baskets.

“Students have spent time getting to know residents in an effort to create activities that match up with things they like to do,” Mr Cleary said.

When the young and old unite for their weekly fun and interaction, there’s lots planned.

“Our work has included the use of a driving simulator, where students teach and assist residents to use an XBOX steering wheel and accelerator-break pedal to drive a car around in a computer game,” Mr Cleary said.

“We’ve prepared trivia and bingo, a drone demonstration, and completed interviews with residents.”

Some of these Q and A sessions were filmed and produced into a This is Your Life package.

“For some residents, having never seen themselves on video, this has been an amazing experience,” he said.

GCC Acting Nurse Unit Manager, Margo Cunningham said whether the young people are playing games, doing concerts or creating personalised artwork for the residents, they’re an uplifting bunch.

“When they’re here, there’s life. The residents know, ‘I’m important, and I matter.’ It’s a breath of fresh air,” she said.

“The residents love the fact that people are spending time with them one-on-one. It’s hugely important in a day when everybody’s really busy, that these students want to spend time with them.

“It’s been a growth for the students as well as the residents. Young people learn about older people and the older people are refreshed by the young.

“It’s a pity it’s not every day, the residents do look forward to it. I hope it continues forever,” Ms Cunningham said.

Year 12 VCAL student, Fiona Browne has developed a better understanding of the challenges people face, living with dementia in a care facility.

“We have gained a sense of achievement seeing these residents light up when we arrive and it feels rewarding when we see them involved in activities,” she said.