With everyone adapting to the new normal, children from Tops Day Nurseries Havant decided to check in on their elderly friends at Southland’s Nursing Home by making them cards and pictures with the hope of making them smile.
Many studies have concluded that social interaction between children and elderly cannot only decrease loneliness in the older generation, but can also delay mental decline as well as promote a number of health benefits including reducing frailty.
There are also a number of benefits to children including increased confidence, risk-taking and the opportunity to mix regularly with elderly people, which some children may not have the chance to do on a regular basis.
Katie Duke, Nursery Manager of Tops Havant, which is based at Trosnant Primary School said “Before lockdown, the children across the nursery were due to go and visit the residents at Southlands Nursing Home in Havant, however, due to current restrictions this has been unable to happen. We used to visit the residents on a regular basis and it is an activity the children have really missed.
To let the residents know we are still thinking of them and looking forward to visiting as soon as we can, the children have made some cards and pictures which have been delivered to the home. Risk assessments were in place to minimise risk of infection and everything was steamed before being handed over, but we really just wanted to share the message to stay safe, stay happy and that we couldn’t wait to come back and play soon!”
Tops Havant introduced a ‘Joining Generations’ programme back in 2018, which meant all children attending the setting have the opportunity to visit Southlands Nursing Home to interact with the residents there, but it is not just the children that miss these visits. The residents were pleased to receive the cards from Tops Havant and are looking forward to their next visit.
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