Friendships Flourish During Social Restrictions at MercyVille

Strong friendships are flourishing at Mercy Health’s MercyVille aged care home with young students from a local school, even during the time of COVID-19.

That’s because children from nearby Whitfords Catholic Primary School have been writing to residents at the not-for-profit home, to build friendships and companionship during this time of social distancing and while the nursing home has been operating under restrictions.

The grades one to six children have been writing letters and drawing pictures every week as part of an intergenerational partnership, which encourages connections between young and old, in the ‘old fashioned’ way.

MercyVille Service Manager, Alison Devonport, said the residents had been overjoyed to receive the regular correspondence from the children over the last couple of months.

“Right now, ensuring our seniors have meaningful connections with others, particularly the next generation, is very important and we’ve been so grateful to the students at Whitfords Catholic Primary School for bringing so much joy to our residents by corresponding with them regularly,” she said.  

“Receiving the letters has not only brought a great deal of happiness into the lives of our residents, it has also taken them on a trip down memory lane, where they have recalled receiving letters from family and friends in their younger years.

“This initiative has been such a success that we’re very keen to see it continue, even after social distancing restrictions ends, whenever that might be.”

Find out more about Mercy Health.