Touching The Hearts Of Our Elderly Friends--and Our Own

We renewed our in-person visits in June 2022 but needed to meet outdoors due to continued COVID precautions. When we moved our visits back inside in the Fall 2022, in keeping with guidelines to keep our elderly friends safe, students and their advisors took antigen tests the morning of and remained masked during each stay. We now visit at the beginning of our school year, for Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and before our students graduate in June.

When we began our project, all the residents we saw were ambulatory and communicative and occasionally in the memory care unit. We heard stories about Boeing in the “old days” or how people arrived in Washington State from other places. We met many former teachers, talked about sports way back when, and chatted about what it was like to grow up so long ago.

Now, however, we visit with residents (and guests who are there for rehabilitation) who may not always be communicative and almost all are in a wheelchair or bed. It may take a while for some, but our students learn how to keep talking, even when there might not be reciprocal communication. Sometimes they may have to gently wake up residents who nod off or repeat bits of conversation or their name for those who don’t remember very well. Our students learn to physically lean in and be present, and often what means the most is the simple act of reaching out to hold the hand of a resident. We engage in activities and conversation, providing mental stimulation, companionship, and human connection for typically up to two dozen elderly patients who could be as old as 103! It has grown to be a truly meaningful exchange, and we see a few of the same residents from year to year. At times, some residents visibly react only when we are leaving by displaying physical movement for the first time during our visit or trying to follow us out. We have learned about residents who have postponed surgery or turned around if they were leaving the area so they can visit with us. It is heartening to see just how much our time there affects the residents, and many of our students also speak lovingly about specific people after our visits. The staff at the facility sincerely appreciate this interaction, as do relatives of patients we meet from time to time. We, as Grade 8 advisors and students, note the benefit to our own well-being, purely by spending time with the residents. Each time we go to the facility, just a quick 10-minute walk away, we visit more people, as we have moved from just the two large gathering rooms to patient rooms, as well. Our visits last just over an hour, and students always make numerous colorful cards and bring small gifts (usually stress balls, no-slip fuzzy socks, and small stuffed animals).

Last year, we applied for the Realize the Dream Community Service Grant through Education Plus and were awarded funds to purchase a broader range of activities and supplies, including tic-tac-toe games, books of photos from the 1940s and 50s, some conversation starter card games, and even beach balls filled with glitter. The students had noticed how one such ball captured the delight of one of the long-time residents, so we brought more. To our amazement, another resident who had been noncommunicative and appeared asleep in a reclined state each time we had come over the past two years, opened her eyes, and began tossing the glitter-filled ball to two of our students! Although she remained inclined and still did not vocalize, it was so uplifting to see her engaged with them. We had seen this resident in past years and in 2022, she was more interactive and had developed a bond with one particular student, now an alum.

We send special kudos to the Activities Director at Covenant Living who likes to make little gifts for us and our students. She even attended last year’s graduation ceremony and reception.  Overall, this project has touched the hearts of many. Great empathy and kindness are fostered and shared by all: residents, staff, students, and the Grade 8 advisors.