Strength through the ages

North Queens Nursing Home has initiated a new program entitled Connecting Youth & Seniors, a major spin-off of the nursing home’s regular Youth Volunteer Program. The youth are from the North Queens area while the older adults are from both the same area and North Queens Nursing Home.

Recreation Coordinator Sharon Saunders is admittedly passionate about the program’s potential. “It’s good for all of us. The residents know someone cares about them and the youth know someone cares about them and that both groups realize they can offer society a lot of good.”

The program started Oct. 25 with 26 participants, eight of whom were youth between the ages of 10 and 14. Saunders said that number has since climbed to 11, only one away from their maximum for the group.

She explained they started with girls and will follow-up with boys after this initial youth orientation period is complete.

Part 1 of the four-part orientation program was followed by two hours of carving pumpkins into Jack-o-Lanterns, naming them, sorting seeds for planting, roasting and clean-up. On another date, they helped make a Halloween cauldron.

Saunders said both groups have many traits in common, ranging from a need to contribute to the community, sharing what they know, alleviating boredom to using existing skills and building on them and learning new skills, many of which are taught by residents.

However, she added, “Good old fashioned fun” is the primary focus. “Our residents are happier because they love it when these youth are here. They have energy and time that the rest of us don’t seem to have. The residents sleep better, eat better and interact better.”

For both groups, she continued, “It gives them an opportunity to share and feel they did something good. They are in essence helping each other. We’re just giving them the opportunity.”

She added there are not enough opportunities in the area for both seniors and youth. With youth, for example, she said not all wish to or can afford to participate in the limited number of area sports. There are numerous other examples, she said.

She said this is, in part, due to a society filled with busy, often money-strapped single working parent and two working parent families. For example, she said she finds her time is constrained by numerous commitments. “Everything is going against youth and everything is going against seniors. I think if we can bring them together they can be quite a strength.”

For youth, participating can boost scholarship, job and bursary applications, for example. The nursing home staff is happy about the initiative, she added, and, hopefully, it will also result in a few more young people returning to North Queens at some point to work at the nursing home. She explained, “We’re always recruiting.”

She added the situation is similar with volunteerism. Older adults, who also enjoy the company of youth, primarily carry the weight at present, she said. “They all come from the community and all have so much to share as do the residents themselves.”

For more information, contact Saunders at 682-2553 at extension 231.