Aveo Cleveland Gardens residents thrive on the joy of their ‘little visitors’

Residents of Aveo’s Cleveland Gardens Retirement Living at Ormiston look forward to Friday each week, because on Friday’s an excited group of children come to visit, play, and learn with their ‘grandfriends’ as part of a partnership between Aveo and Play Matters Australia. 

 

Established three years ago the partnership is one of the longest running intergenerational playgroup programs bringing the young and young at heart together, offering benefits for seniors, children and their parents or caregivers while building relationships, skills and confidence through play.

 

Eileen Heidemann (shown right) has lived at Cleveland Gardens for the past 12 months, and never misses the weekly visits by the children and their parents or caregivers.

 

“It’s a special time watching the things the little ones start to do as they progress and grow. We have a little bub learning to crawl at the moment,’’ she said.

 

Ms Heidemann has 14 great-grandchildren, eight grandchildren and four children of her own, but loves chatting and having cuddles with the little ones. 

 

“It’s very special,’’ she said. 

 

For mother Claire Twomey, the visits are equally special, and a moment that she and son Elwood, who is almost four years of age, look forward to all week. 

 

“Elwood looks forward to Fridays as he knows we visit our ‘grandfriends’ after his swimming lesson,’’ she said.

 

“My husband and I are from Ireland and with Elwood’s grandparents overseas it’s wonderful for him to connect with an older generation. He has learned to play differently with them and is more patient and gentler than he would be with his friends or with us.” 

 

“Elwood loves tossing a ball to Beryl and having stories read to him by Lynda.”

 

For Ms Twomey, her day off work on Friday is a special one, and an opportunity for her to connect with the residents also. 

 

While some of the residents have families who visit regularly, others don’t get to see their families as often as they would like, making the visits extra special. 

 

“It’s wonderful to watch the different generations interacting – sometimes there are three or four in the one room,” Cleveland Gardens Events and Activities Coordinator Carly Kotynski said. 

 

“Close bonds do form and there’s always lots of smiles,’’ she added.

 

To learn more about the Play Matters’ Ageless Play program, or to find a play experience near you, visit playmatters.org.au or call 1800 00 PLAY.