Brandon-Evansville fifth graders, senior living residents making special connections, friendships
By Carol Stender
Brody Kellen was nervous meeting residents of the Evansville Care Campus (ECC) for the first time in October, but after the visit, the Brandon-Evansville (B-E) Public School fifth grader couldn’t wait to return.
“It was someone I’d never met,” Kellen said. “But I felt like I want to go back and it was happy.”
Kellen and his 21 classmates meet monthly through May with ECC residents. During the roughly hour-long visits, students and residents make a craft and talk. Bonds are made. Friendships are formed.
Fifth grade teacher Jeff Anderson started the program, Age to Age, 10 years ago after fellow teacher Barbara Bratvold suggested it. She had implemented a similar program in her classroom.
“We tried it the first year and I loved the response,” Anderson said.
The residents have enjoyed the visits, as well.
“It’s nice to see the younger people,”said Therese Peterson who has resided at ECC for more than six months. “I don’t get out often except for doctor’s appointments. The kids enjoy it and I think it’s fun, too. They are very attentive and energetic.”
Before the students met with residents, they admitted feeling anxious and nervous about the visits.
“I didn’t know them,” said Jayce Rusch.
While the class may have sung for residents in the past, they had never talked to people at the nursing home, said 10-year-old Eli Richter.
But Anderson prepared the students well before their October visit. He started at the very beginning of the school year. Along with their regular studies in reading, writing, arithmetic and all the other educational courses, the 22 fifth graders were guided in a curriculum focused on kindness and caring.
Anderson has, besides preparing students for the visits with seniors, included “Thankful Thursday” where students make thank you cards to people who do special things. He gives the example of a thank you to mom for making supper.
He has partnered with Steve Hartman of CBS News through a program called Kindness 101 where Anderson shows Steve’s videos that focus on human interest stories. This forms a basis for daily classroom discussions including meeting the residents at ECC.
Anderson advises students on the timeline of their visits. They will make a craft and some residents may need help completing it, he says.
“Mr. A told us that we would be making turkeys and owls for our first session and he told us they might not have good hearing,” said Jayce Rusch. “It was not different for me because my grandpa doesn’t have good hearing either.”
Jackson Evjen said Anderson informed them the residents may repeat the same thing a few times.
“But he also said it was going to be fun,” Evjen said. “He said that you are probably gonna make friends.”
Students admitted they were anxious before their first visit.
“I was a bit nervous and scared because I have never met them,” said Ivan Sullivan. “It was okay in the end because I knew them after…Mr. Anderson said, ‘You may be nervous, but the more questions you ask, the more comfortable you will be.’”
“He told us that they will repeat what they say,” said Mykah Klemenhagen.
Beau Haseman said they were told to “speak louder and respect them.”
After all the guidance and after their first visit, the students were eager to return.
One learned she doesn’t have to speak quite so loud.
While the students have had conversations with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, meeting with the residents for the first time was a bit scary for some. They were starting conversations with people they did not know. It didn’t take long, however, before connections were made.
Beau Haseman said he was nervous and shaken during his first visit where he met with Patsy.
“I was shaken before I got to know them because I don’t have much experience,” he said. “But I could relate with her a lot. She was so nice.”
In November, the class’ second meeting with ECC residents, Ryker Anderson looked around the dining hall where residents were waiting at tables for their young visitors.
“I was excited and I really didn’t know who I was going to be with, but I saw Betty (Cole), and decided to work with her again,” he said with a smile. Through their conversations, he learned that Cole came from St. Paul and retired in Battle Lake.
Hunter Mikkelson sat by Marvella Playle.
“I will give you an A,” Playle told him as they worked on their project. “I didn’t get many A’s in school.”
Playle said the visits with the students are fun.
“Everyday is the same,” said Marvella. “This is fun to be with the kids and to talk with them.”
Jayce Rusch sat by resident Jerry Ehlen. The two had worked together on a craft the month before. This time they tackled a Christmas decoration. The backing was difficult to remove on some of the pieces. Rusch was there to assist as Ehlen put the pieces together.
“It was different talking to Betty than my grandma,” said 11-year-old Steinar Peterson. “But I was excited to go because I knew I would have a good time.”
Even though they have only met with the residents a few times this year, they have started some meaningful friendships. Student Ryker Anderson saw Betty Cole at one table and decided to be with her on his second visit.
“I was excited and didn’t really know who I was going to be with, but I saw Betty,” he said.
Cole, from Battle Lake, has been at the ECC since early October. Together, Ryker and Betty made a Christmas ornament.
The students take charge of the crafts and usually remove the paper from the adhesive strips to make the crafts. Together they work on the craft. Often residents hang the craft on their doors or in their rooms.
Eli Richter talked about the turkeys and owls they made in the first meeting with residents.
“I helped my resident put it together,” he said. “And the resident still had their frog (craft) from the year before because it was special.”
The Age to Age program is a bridge across the generations. Through their visits, the students learn conversational skills and make connections.
“She was like my grandma on my mom’s side,” said Adylin Grommesh.
Sophia Berardy echoed what all the students feel about their visits.
“It was fun,” said the 10-year-old. “And I cannot wait to go back.”
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