Friendship has no age limit

Monday 27 March 2017

An unlikely friendship has been developed between Uniting AgeWell Carnsworth Community resident Dobbie Room and Davis Street Kinder student Jude. 

Seventy nine-year-old Dobbie, whose grandchildren are scattered around the world, and four-and-a-half-year-old Jude struck up a touching friendship during weekly visits by the kinder group to the Carnsworth Community in Kew. 

Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator Vindhya Mendis said every week when Jude arrived, he would look for Dobbie, give her a big hug and play games with her.

He even brought his dad in and introduced him to Dobbie one morning.

Dobbie said with two grandchildren in the US and one already in high school, Jude was like another grandson to her.

“I really look forward to seeing Jude every week,” she said. 

“We were seated next to each other on the first day and have become friends since.” 

Vindhya said she had seen first hand the benefits of the Wednesday visits for both residents and children since the intergenerational program began last year. 

“Many of our residents feel more energised, empowered and part of the community with the children around,” she said.

“They play games, musical statues, paint, build blocks, do puzzles and share stories with each other.  

“The children teach our residents games on the iPad and one resident with dementia even wrote his own name for the first time in five years.” 

Davis Street Kindergarten Director and teacher, Ruth Wallbridge, said the idea to bring the kinder class to Carnsworth came from the Reggio Emilia Approach, where early education is based on relationships and learning through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment. 

“A lot of research has been done on the positive impact mixing with young children can have on older people,” she said. 

“However, we’re beginning to notice the benefits it brings to our children as well, especially those with special needs such as autism and attention deficit disorders.  It gives them extra attention and develops greater empathy in our children.” 

Uniting AgeWell CEO Andrew Kinnersly said as the organisation strengthened its lifestyle and activities programs, it was hoped the intergenerational program would delay a decline in cognitive function and enable residents to remain connected to the community.

“It is a beautiful thing to watch the children interact with our residents through activities and see them enjoy each other’s company, building trust and friendships,” he said.  

“We have seen really positive changes in our residents and have also seen the children’s confidence grow as new relationships are developed,” he said. 

Davis Street Kinder is currently fundraising to hire a bus to take the children to and from Uniting AgeWell Carnsworth Community every Wednesday.  For further information, contact Ruth Wallbridge 0433 244 000. 

Media are invited to attend the next Kinder session at Carnsworth: 
Wednesday, March 29
8.30am-11.00am
Uniting AgeWell Carnsworth Community 
10 A’Beckett Street Kew