Adelaide program connects teens with aged care residents

ABC NEWS (Australia)

More than 190,000 Australians live in aged care facilities, and ways to improve resident wellbeing is a key focus since the aged care Royal Commission. One program in Adelaide’s north has found friendships with teenagers is helping both generations.

Transcript

00:00Year 10 student Tyra Burns is a bit of a bookworm.

00:06She's in good company with Aged Care resident Barbara Cook.

00:10The unlikely pair have spent the past few months bonding over their shared passion.

00:15Actually I'm reading Anne Doe's story and it's bringing me to tears just about, you

00:20know.

00:21Wonderful man, yes.

00:22I've been reading Harry Potter, I know that's a bit old, but yeah I've been reading that

00:26and other stuff as well for school because I've been learning in Gothic and all that

00:30so I've been reading all those types of like the Mockingbird story as well and yeah and

00:36then Barbara was telling me about her stories that she's been reading and all the books

00:38and yeah.

00:39Yeah, great readers.

00:42It's part of a program connecting Aged Care residents with local high school students.

00:48They say they feel lighter, happier and more aware of each other's life experiences after

00:54the sessions.

00:55I don't think there's been one group that hasn't laughed or smiled at the least because

00:59the residents here are just so friendly and funny.

01:02I just go about my day a bit differently knowing the impact that they've made.

01:06Keen musos Alex and Jeff had plenty to talk about.

01:10It was bizarre how much we had in common.

01:12It was really good.

01:13It was good to connect with something that I wouldn't normally talk to but he's got a

01:16lot of experience and stuff that I really respect and possibly want to go into in my

01:21own future.

01:22One recommendation of the Aged Care Royal Commission was to increase older people's

01:27access to mental health services.

01:30But less clinical solutions like building new friendships could be key to increasing

01:35happiness, self-esteem and sense of purpose.

01:38Dopamine's released when you feel connected and relationships are key to our wellbeing.

01:43The more that we connect with someone and we feel heard and validated and listened to,

01:48appreciated, it's one of the best health benefits there is.

01:52They'll have even more to talk about after the school holidays when the program continues

01:57next term.

01:58The emotional, social wellbeing has just had an incredible impact so we're very, very pleased

02:04with how positive it's been.

02:06Oh it's lovely.

02:08We can't turn the clock back but it's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was

02:16a long time ago.

02:18New friends becoming old mates.

02:22It's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.

02:26It's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.

02:29It's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.

02:32It's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.

02:35It's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.

02:38It's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.

02:41It's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.

02:44It's nice to be reminded of when I was 15, which was a long time ago.

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