A Legacy program at Bolton Clarke’s Allity Marten Aged Care Home in Largs North, South Australia, is providing residents the opportunity to impart their wisdom and skills with the youngest generation.
This program is connecting residents with children of staff members so they can share their knowledge, skills or accomplishments, and teach the children something new.
More and more residents have been joining the program as word has spread of the great fun and joy the program is bringing to participants.
It’s not just the residents who are passing on knowledge, but the children are also helping participants meet lifelong goals of their own, with one resident learning how to play a song on a piano from the teachings of a young participant.
Another resident, Dr Brian Moore, a former Royal Flying Doctor and General Practitioner (GP) shared his tips on success with young aspiring health professionals.
Two other residents, Brian MacRae and Aileen Brice, were able to teach the children how to propagate gardens, which was a popular teaching experience among the kids.
One of the oldest residents, 100-year-old Irene Taylor, was able to share her knowledge of building planes during World War II and regale her Legacy buddy with stories from the war.
Care Manager at the facility, Kelly Prosser, said her son Hartley, 3, was absolutely captivated by Irene and her experiences working on planes during WWII.
In her younger days, Ms Taylor worked with the Royal Air Force (RAF) for four years. She entertained young Hartley and other Legacy buddies with her experience of carefully working on the wings of planes, because flames could come out at any time and you could easily lose your footing.
“Irene spent time talking to the boys and was telling them how in World War II she was fitting bombers. At the time, she was in her early 20s,” said Ms Prosser.
“She was just so happy talking to the boys and play fighting with the toy planes. Hartley kept one of the planes and still sleeps with it every night – he will definitely be back!
“The Legacy photos are a real talking point during tours with families and visitors and new residents want to be involved.”
With more school holidays on the way, the organisation is planning to put Legacy sessions in place to meet the growing demand.
Residents are looking forward to the chance to engage with young people and leave their own legacy.
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