Children’s visit brings smiles and laughter for Maplewood residents
First Kids Nite a success, say residents, LEC
Thursday May 8, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
The activity room at Maplewood was buzzing with happiness April 30 during the home’s first Kids Nite.

In fact, the event was such a success life enrichment co-ordinator Chris Charlebois plans to host a Kids Nite every three months.

Staff members and family members brought their children to the Brighton long-term care home for an evening which included games, crafts and refreshments.

The evening, which had a Mexican theme, saw the 30 children making maracas with dried beans and spending time visiting with residents. The grand finale of the evening was a piñata, a traditional Mexican toy filled with sweets, which the children got to break open.

Charlebois explains the importance of intergenerational events.

“Residents just light up — even the ones that normally don’t say anything will get a sparkle in their eye and a smile on their face,” she says. “For some reason residents just love to watch the little ones.”

Ruth McLaren, a resident at Maplewood for 10 years, agrees.

“It was wonderful to see those little faces,” she says. “(The residents) were laughing and they were so happy. I love those little faces. We all love to see the children.”

As a ministry requirement, Ontario long-term care homes are expected to provide intergenerational programming. Charlebois, who came up with the idea, notes that because there are no nursery schools in the area, finding community partnerships to meet the ministry requirement can be challenging.

She adds that evening was successful on many levels.

“I wanted to find a way to get more kids in, and I thought that the staff would enjoy it because their kids get to come in and participate, and residents get to see family members and we’re having our intergenerational programming,” says Charlebois.

Charlebois says she recommends a similar program to any long-term home which finds it challenging to create intergenerational programming. To make the program successful, Charlebois recommends homes advertise the event at least a week in advance.

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