The Maggie Beer Foundation loves to celebrate good news stories and we were thrilled to hear of an initiative by The Blended Circle. Due to the coronavirus sweeping the country they were unable to start their intergenerational program with aged care homes, so instead they are taking the time to do what they can to share the love with our very isolated elderly.
They have come up with a wonderful idea to connect with the most vulnerable people in the community.
Kirsty Somerville, of The Blended Circle, writes, our mums, dads, grandparents and people with disabilities living in aged care facilities. The number of visitors are restricted and we know that they would be feeling extremely isolated at the moment.
People who were once leaders, business owners, raised children, home schooled when it wasn’t forced, went to war or lived through it.
The idea is to get children to draw pictures and or think about becoming a pen pal and write letters to brighten the daily lives of our most fragile.
Apart from their amazing nurses, cooks and cleaners they are alone.
The group was created on 26th March 2020 and since then we have 300 members with over 400 children joined to four aged care homes. This includes children from New Zealand and the USA.
We encourage the children to use this as a writing or art task as part of their home schooling whilst teaching them respect and empathy.
The response from the parents and children so far has been so rewarding but it doesn’t compare to the smiles and joy for the elderly that have been receiving the beautiful drawings and letters.
In the future and once restriction have eased we hope to have pen pal parties at the facilities so everyone can meet in person and continue the bond that was created during isolation.
To get behind this fabulous idea, join the group via Facebook at The Blended Circle.