In short:
Two generations have come together in Adelaide for a program aimed at helping participants socialise, connect and understand each other.
High school students and aged care residents have formed unlikely friendships and are reaping the mental and physical benefits.
What’s next?
The program will continue after the school holidays.
Lively, funny, cheeky, silly, understanding, knowledgeable and completely nutty.
That’s how a group of aged care residents in Adelaide’s north think a group of local year 10 students perceive them.
It’s a stark difference to the start of the term, before the two generations commenced a program to socialise, connect and understand each other.
Some of the older cohort were concerned the teenagers would think of them as archaic, fuddy duddies, out of touch and unrelatable.
But for bookworms, student Tyra Burns and resident Barbara Cooke, that couldn’t be further from reality.
“We both love reading,” Ms Burns said.
“I’ve been reading Harry Potter. I know it’s a bit old but I’ve been reading that.
“And for school I’ve been learning about Gothic [literature] and I’ve been reading To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Ms Cooke said the pair played word games, talked about their families and ambitions, while sharing their passion in books.
“I’m reading Ahn Do’s story and it’s bringing me to tears, just about,” she said.
“It’s an over-the-generations contact so it’s wonderful. I’ve learned a lot.”
Paired-up musicians, resident Geoff Glover and student Alex Burton, became incredibly close throughout the term.
“Geoff is a personality that’s for sure. He performed a lot in his younger years,” Mr Burton said.
“He would clock off after work straight away, get home, get changed, go straight to his gig, be at the pub all night from 7 until 10 o’clock then go home and repeat the next day.
“It was really good to connect with someone I wouldn’t normally talk to, but he’s got a lot of experience that I really respect, and possibly want to go into in my own future.”
After the weekly sessions, the participants said they felt lighter, happier and more aware of each other’s life experiences.
Student Laura Barber said spending time with the older generation has been eye-opening.
“They’ve got so many interesting stories, and a lot you can take into your everyday life,” she said.
“I just go about my day a bit differently knowing the impact they’ve made.”
Gleeson College teacher, Sarah McLoughlin, said she’s seen the teenager’s patience, empathy and social confidence grow.
“Sometimes the residents have shared hard things about their life, sad things, perhaps that their spouse had passed away,” Ms McLoughlin said.
“Often their responses have been really mature and really empathetic.
“Things like, ‘That sounds really tough, I’m sorry you went through that’ or, ‘Wow, you sound really strong, that’s amazing that you’ve gotten through those experiences.'”
Around 193,000 Australians live in aged care facilities.
One recommendation of the Aged Care Royal Commission was to improve older people’s access to mental health services.
But less clinical solutions, like building new friendships, could be key to increasing happiness, self-esteem and sense of purpose.
University of Adelaide lecturer and clinical psychologist, Dr Rita Princi-Hubbard, said programs that encourage a sense of belonging can have lasting health benefits.
“When we relate to someone else in a caring way, we help that person feel recognised, validated, acknowledged and that’s really mentally healthy, but even physically healthy,” she said.
“Knowing you’re in a safe place, you’re more able to concentrate, interact and emotionally regulate.
“Dopamine is released when you feel connected with someone. It’s one of the best health benefits there is.”
The residents and students will have plenty to talk about after the school holidays when the program continues next term.
“I really do look forward to it,” resident Ruby Harrison said.
“We can’t turn the clock back, but it’s nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.”