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residents are invited to The centre staff, knowing their residents best, determine who would get the most benefit from weekly exposure to babies and music while allowing it to proceed without interruption. The underlying principle for this selection is to choose those who are most in need of joy. The Saint Luke’s Place program began with an equal number of seniors to babies, but as the program grew in popularity and more were identified as those who would benefit from the experience, 20-25 seniors now attend every week! 90% of them are in wheelchairs, all of them suffer from some sort of dementia and memory loss, and all of them LOVE babies! What goes on
in the Village Every week, volunteers bring residents to/from the auditorium. They also help hand out/collect instruments and props to the seniors, and enjoy helping them to participate by clapping/tapping their hands for them or encouraging them to sing to the babies. From time to time, visitors arrive as well, such as the chaplain and nursing staff, who like to hang at the back of the room and sway/bop together to the music! The director, board members, family members of the seniors, and teenagers who are there on job-shadow days with their parents, sometimes drop in to see what all the excitement is about. Practically everyone who comes gets completely involved and engrossed in the experience. A typical class includes lots of singing, dancing, rocking babies on senior’s laps, partner games, cuddles and hugs, as well as props and instruments, such as willowy scarves for movement and peek-a-boo games, mirrors, egg shakers, jingle bells, drums, and more. Activities are selected for a variety of interactive possibilities; seniors feel free to participate as much or as little as they can/want. The music is often familiar to the seniors, bringing back memories of childhood and child rearing. Seniors in the program find a great deal of joy and satisfaction in observing the growing participation and development of the babies over the course of eight weeks. What parents are saying …
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Here’s what the Saint Luke’s Place staff have observed … “Alice”, when under-stimulated, can be a wanderer, and staff need to keep a constant eye on her. However, she is very attentive and relaxed throughout the program, and has not wandered away even once in the 24 classes she has attended! Alice’s granddaughter, Valerie, and her great-granddaughter, Lily, participate in the program too (pictured at below). How special for them to be able to bond in this way through the power of music!
“Norma” suffers from dementia and has periods where she does not verbally communicate with staff. However, during class, she reaches out to the children, smiles and laughs. She taps her hands along to the music and stays awake for much longer periods than usual. Upon returning from class each week, the nurses have noted that she is more social, more responsive, and in an upbeat mood. Her family is delighted by this response. Norma is pictured in a very happy moment with 9-month old “Madeleine”.
“Jean” is prone to aggressive outbursts. However, once she sees the babies arriving for class, she immediately calms down and becomes very loving toward the babies, commenting on how wonderful and sweet they are. One week, “Thomas” interrupted the class to say a few words about how valuable this experience was for the babies and how we all need to appreciate God’s greatest gift - children. Everyone had tears in their eyes by the time he was finished! During the first 8-week pilot of the program, the nursing staff at Saint Luke’s Place kept notes on the residents before, during and after each class to measure the effectiveness of the experience. They noted that, above all, the residents receive so much stimulation and interaction from this program in a variety of ways, they ALL respond, no matter their cognitive level. Residents who are generally confused, benefit greatly from the Village with Seniors program as nothing is required of them, just to observe and enjoy. Music is continually provided which enhances all of their senses. Everyone relates to the music, much of which is familiar to them; adding babies to the mix, is a magical, and powerful combination.
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