Brisbane playgroup bringing generations together
Brisbane playgroup bringing generations together
22 June 2017
A Music and Playtime playgroup at The Cairns Aged Care Plus Centre at Chapel Hill in Brisbane is connecting generations.
What is it about babies and old people that is just so right?
A playgroup at The Salvation Army’s Aged Care Plus Centre in Brisbane is changing lives across the generations.
Chaplains for the The Cairns Aged Care Plus Centre at Chapel Hill, Captains Jeff and Terri Goodwin, had been praying about how to connect with different segments of the community when a young mother approached them to start a playgroup.
“I thought well, ‘why don’t I take my little boy and visit an aged care home because that way when he grows up he’s not going to look at old people and think they’re scary’,” explains Brisbane mother Sidoni Lilwell. “I wanted to give people the opportunity to get involved and so I approached The Salvation Army and they loved the idea … so it just fitted and worked perfectly.”
The first playgroup was held earlier this year with a small group of about six children and their parents, who came together in the chapel at the centre with a small group of elderly residents.
“It was just perfect,” remembers Sidoni. “There was just enough [people] for the kids to interact with each other and the elderly people, without anybody getting overwhelmed and it was relaxed, everyone had a laugh and everyone had a turn.”
Bringing babies and toddlers, who naturally have a tendency to cry and tantrum on a regular basis, into an aged care centre could be seen as a crazy idea. But Captains Jeff and Terri say the playgroup hasn’t been a stress on residents at all. In fact, it’s been a blessing.
Every week they invite a number of residents to attend the playgroup, keeping the number small so that each person there has a chance to interact with the mothers and children in a meaningful way. They sing songs, play musical instruments and games, then give the kids independent playtime while the adults enjoy morning tea.
“We’ve got one lady here, she will actually cuddle the children and it’s just beautiful to see,” says Captain Terri. “And one particular gentleman here, he used to be in the Boys Brigade of The Salvation Army and he had a lot to do with it, so when the children come in he gets immense enjoyment out of the program. He would be in his 80s, but he gets up and he dances with the children and sings with the children.”
Sidoni says watching the children and the residents is a beautiful experience. “I love watching the interaction between the elderly residents and the kids. I love watching that because the residents that [are mobile], get on the floor and play with the kids, some of them get to hold the babies and it just seems to make the elderly residents, just breathe differently.
“You start to form a relationship with them [the residents] as well … it also just keeps you grounded in some weird way. It teaches you some life lessons.”
Captains Jeff and Terri say the playgroup is a natural extension to their ministry at The Cairns Aged Care Plus Centre at Chapel Hill.
They feel that their role as Chaplains at the Centre doesn’t just involve ministering to the residents, but to their families and to the local community. This includes opening their weekly chapel service to anyone who wishes to attend. At the moment they are working with a group of local high school students who help at the Sunday service. Many residents’ families also attend from time to time.
“With the residents here, we aim to give them the best life they can in the remaining years that they’re here at the Centre,” says Captain Jeff.
“[At the playgroup] … you can just see their faces just light up, the residents faces who come down for the program, and also you can see the parents who bring their children along, they’re extremely happy watching their children making a difference in these elderly people’s lives. It’s really a lovely thing to see.”
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