A group of home aged care recipients have received a hard cover book about their lives as part of an intergenerational project in the South Australian city of Port Pirie about 220 kilometres north of Adelaide.
The project implemented the Bridging Ages program, which began in Sussex, England, in 2014, to connect older people with teenagers to reduce loneliness and ensure stories are not lost or forgotten. Each connection has resulted in the creation of a Life Story book.
It involved six Helping Hand home care clients who shared their life story with 14 year nine students from Mid North Christian College over eight weeks. The students then prepared a Life Book for each client, who received them earlier this month at an event at the Port Pirie Tennis Club.
Among the participants is Arthur Stephens, who has lived all but three of his 94 years in Port Pirie, where he worked in the smelters for 40 years before retiring 40 years ago.
“It was nice to be able to pass on my life story and share some of the things we did in our younger days. It’s one of the things we don’t have very much of and I was quite pleased to help,” Mr Stephens said in a statement.
Helping Hand product development and innovation manager Bob Fleming said the project successfully brought people of different ages together to share their life stories, connect with the community, reduce loneliness, build meaningful relationships and allow people to share their wealth of knowledge with a different generation.
“It’s provided the opportunity for our clients to pass on a great deal of knowledge and share lived experience with the younger generation,” Mr Fleming said. “They’ve shared a life well-lived and the students and older people were absolutely delighted with the program. The students were fascinated with the whole experience.”
Student Eliza Polden, now 16, spent time with fellow participant and Helping Hand home care client Joan Richardson.
“It was really interesting talking to Joan, it was great to hear the stories about what has gone on in her life, there were so many memories,” Ms Polden said.
It is the first time the Bridging Ages program has been implemented in Australia but not the last, said Helping Hand chief executive Chris Stewart.
“When our Home Care clients received their books they were thrilled to be able to have their life stories recorded, which they’ve now been able to share with their families and friends, reflecting the life they’ve lived, and ensuring their stories are not lost or forgotten,” Mr Stewart said in a statement.
“Our clients told us they enjoyed spending time with the younger generation and it provided them with an opportunity to connect with teenagers, which they’re looking to continue now the program has been completed. It has been a rewarding and enriching program for everyone involved, and we’re looking to continue it into the future.”
Main image: Helping Hand client and Bridging Ages participant David Willsher
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