Monday, November 21, 2005 -- Craig Anderson
The first time the baby boy went to the 'Grandfriends' program, he was fixated on one resident’s cane.

The resident like to swing and tap his cane playfully, and the little one became memerized. Every time he and other children from Hucklebug Child Care Centre visited Pleasant Meadow Manor he purposefully sat in the same spot, anticipating this one male resident’s arrival. As he grew into a toddler, the two became great buddies.

Although the program – a partnership and regular visits between the nursing home and the daycare centre – is now only offered to toddlers, it is not infrequent for deeper connections to develop between residents and toddlers during their once-a-week visits.

“The biggest benefits are the ‘teaching moments’ – where first time participants, who might be slightly frightened become more familiar with the elderly and aging in general," says Karen Radnor, who has been with the centre for the duration of the 15-year partnership with Pleasant Meadow.

"It’s important to get them out and about and to see different people in the community."

Despite staffing changes or alterations to daycare centre programming, the “Grandfriends” program has endured.

“This program is part of who we are now,” says Karen.

Pleasant Meadow residents themselves visit the daycare once a month, although mobility issues lower the numbers that are typically present at the in-home visits, from 20 to less than five.

From the toddlers’ perspective, says Sandy Bruce, early child educator, the trip to the home is one that causes considerable excitement.

“There’s more ‘grandfriends’ for them to interact with when they go to Pleasant Meadow,” she says. “They become quite excited about the Monday morning visits.”

“It’s a very worthwhile partnership – and despite the huge differences in age the participants develop a very strong contact with each other.”

Staff at Hucklebug also benefit from the relationship, says Karen, who adds that during her periodic visits that she has become acclimatized to a nursing home setting and more empathetic towards seniors.

Conversely, staff at Pleasant Meadow, a number of whom have kids who attend Hucklebug, work closely to ensure the weekly sessions run smoothly and that the toddlers are not overwhelmed or unhappy.

Yesterday, one girl, normally quite comfortable going to Pleasant Meadow, was feeling cranky. A concerned Chris Charlebois, Pleasant Meadow’s life enrichment supervisor, “scooped her up,” says Sandy, and offered soothing words. Within minutes the girl was participating in the 'grandfriends' circle.

“I am very happy that they are involved,” says Karen, noting the other collaborative efforts the partners share: daycare staff helping with bingo and Pleasant Meadow staff assisting the Hucklebug fundraising efforts.

Beyond the social and psychological boosts the program offers, residents and toddlers benefit physically from their mutual playtime, adds Karen.

“The visits are a good opportunity for both the children and the residents to move their bodies while they sing and recite stories,” she says.

Although the toddlers only get to see a select group of residents, at a recent Halloween tour a costume-clad group of 10 toddlers quietly visited resident rooms, including those confined to their beds.

“They were shaking residents' hands,” says Sandy.