The Coventry care home bringing children and elderly people together
As Row, Row, Row Your Boat is sung at this care home and children play with the elderly residents, staff say both age groups are feeling the benefits.They are taking part in the weekly Grandfriends playgroup at the Avalon Court Care Home in Tile Hill, Coventry, set up by childminder Lisa Taylor.Babies and toddlers join the residents for some fun and one of them, Sue Queen, 82, says they love the visits from the youngsters."I think we're often ignored when you get to our age and it's lovely to come here where we're part of it," she said.
Launched in 2017, Ms Taylor said she was inspired by the effects the children she works with had on her own grandparents."Even with advanced dementia, they could still sing nursery rhymes, because it's stored differently in our brain and you've got the emotional connection," she said.Having pitched the idea to several care homes in the city, Avalon Court picked it up.
At their latest playgroup, eight-year-old Rosie helps 86-year-old Dennis Oliver remember the actions to Incy Wincy Spider.She is one of the children who come back to visit in the school holidays, even when they are too old to take part in Grandfriends.They first met when Rosie was in preschool."I enjoyed coming because we did all these fun activities," she said."We sang songs and I got to see the grandfriends.""She tapped me on the shoulder and I didn't recognise her," added Mr Oliver. "She's so grown up."
Nearby Mrs Queen and Mary Cliffe, 80, sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat and hold hands with their young visitors.They both said they loved the visits, especially as their own families did not live close to them."I think what happens is they walk into this room," said Ms Cliffe. "[And they think] 'Oh yes, I know where I am, I can start running now'."
Home manager Rachael Thorpe said she loved seeing new relationships being formed."To actually see the children going up to the residents and seeing that resident and child become alive, it's just such a heartwarming experience," she explained.
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