“Our residents love to spend time with younger members of the community and to get creative,” she said.
“This event was an important opportunity for them to combine two things they dearly love.”
Later in the week, Hopetoun P-12 students visited for a special Book Week parade, with aged-care staff and residents embracing the occasion by dressing up.
Hopetoun nurse unit manager Allison Fischer said residents enjoyed seeing the students’ costumes as the parade wound down each passage, allowing residents to wave and cheer from their rooms.
“Book Week was such a wonderful opportunity for our residents to come together and get involved in an occasion,” she said.
“It was wonderful to see so many students embrace the day and go out of their way to make sure every resident was included throughout the day.
“Watching the children get involved, whether through art, music or costumes, creates such a joyful atmosphere across the campus.”
RNH interim chief executive Lois O’Callaghan said intergenerational visits were incredibly important for residents and brought enormous joy to residents, families and staff alike.
“These intergenerational visits are such an important part of supporting our residents’ wellbeing and their connection to the local community, which is something that matters deeply to so many of them,” she said.
“We are incredibly grateful to our local schools for taking the time out of their day to visit the Rural Northwest Health Hopetoun campus and spend time with our residents.”
