Macquarie Hills Community Preschool brightens the days of HammondCare residents

Children from Macquarie Hills Community Preschool in the Hunter region of New South Wales have brightened the days of aged care residents living in HammondCare Cardiff. 

Plans were in place for the preschoolers to visit prior to the pandemic, however pandemic related restrictions made this a challenge. Thankfully, now that restrictions have eased, a contingent of 12 children along with their educators and a parent helper recently.

During the first visit, both residents and children enjoyed a morning of singing, painting, and enjoying morning tea. The children brought along some tapping sticks, and showed the older residents the way in which they acknowledge Awabakal Country.

Preschool director Sue Collinson hopes the experience between the pre-schoolers and the residents will provide opportunities for meaningful relationships to develop between the two cohorts.

She said the connection between the two groups is “a wonderful opportunity to venture out into our local area in a meaningful way” and that it is helping the children develop a genuine sense of community. 

Moving forward the preschool plans to take groups of children to HammondCare twice each term, something which residential manager Laiju Benny says will boost the morale, wellbeing and overall quality of life of the residents.

“The residents do enjoy having children around and it lifts their feeling of happiness,” Ms Benny shared with Australian Aging Agenda. “They see the innocence, happiness and laughter and it brings joy into their lives.”

The HammondCare site opened in 2019, and children are not often seen in the community, which hosts up to 99 residents who are living with dementia. Learn more about HammondCare here.