My first Magazine St Joseph's Home_40th Anniversary magazine.compres | Page 78

Changing
to Serve
But won’t the interaction
open the children up to
‘diseases’ in the home?
It’s a complete myth that a nursing home is full
of diseases that can be caught on by anyone
who walks in. Many of the residents come in
with prior conditions like stroke, hip fractures,
dementia, heart ailments, none of which is
infectious. Should a senior happen to have the
flu, they will simply sit out of the activity. This
goes the other way too. A sick child will not
be allowed to interact with the senior who is
perhaps as vulnerable as the child. Coming to a
nursing home is thus as ‘dangerous’ as going to
a public area with other people.
The converse is true
Seniors who enter a home have very little
opportunity to interact with the public especially
children. This lack of social interaction raises
their risk of falling ill with conditions like
depression. Creating this unique space amid
lush greenery thus offers that “rare opportunity
for both generations to come together to play,
learn and just enjoy one another’s company,”
says Infant and Childcare Principal Frances Yap.
Did you know?
hers have to be trained in
● All infant and childcare teac
child first aid?
teach, they also counsel,
● Childcare teachers don’t just
the young ones. On
le
cajo
clean up after, carry and
t planners, costume
even
e
-tim
part
top of that, they’re
short, they’re almost
makers, doctors and nurses. In
superhuman!
month than you probably
● Teachers eat more cake in a
’s birthday
ry
would in your lifetime (eve child
if
even
cake
a
with
has to be celebrated
th!)
mon
e
sam
the
in
10 birthdays fall
76
Home
76 | | St St Joseph’s
Joseph’s
Home