An intergenerational reminiscence program at Courtlands Aged Care in North Parramatta is celebrating the lives of elderly residents and fostering relationships between young and old.
The program involved students from Tara Anglican School for Girls, and linked a resident with a group of students, who listened to the residents’ personal stories and produced a memento in celebration of their life.
Volunteer and Pastoral Care Coordinator, Sherene Noble, said the program was a great success for both the residents and the students.
“Both our residents and the students found there was significant value in this process and thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said.
Reminiscence is the process where people take time to look back on past events and people, to recall memories and to recapture the emotions that went with them.
It can be an opportunity for older people to share these memories with others, extracting the lessons that can be learned from them and passed onto the younger generation, therefore adding value to the memories as they are shared.
“The students involved were left with an appreciation of the generations who have gone before them, and were given the opportunity to learn important life lessons from people outside their own families,” Sherene said.
Given the success of the ‘Generational Reminiscence’ program, it will be running again during the year. If you would like to be involved please contact Sherene Noble on (02) 9683 8030 or snoble@chomes.com.au.
