POULSBO — There were cookies and juice, some funny stories about alligators and bears and a lot of smiles around the table.
But this was not just play time.
As part of National Generations United Week, Miss Poulsbo Canon Henness took part in several activities at the Martha & Mary nursing facility this week. Generations United, a national organization that brings the elderly and youth together, is Henness’ platform for her year as the titleholder. In preparation for her run for Miss Washington in late June, she’s been participating in various activities at Poulsbo’s oldest skilled-care facility.
Tuesday, it was the weekly sing-a-long in the Alzheimer’s center. More than a dozen children from the Martha & Mary Childcare Center gathered with the “grandmas and grandpas next door” to sing silly kids songs and share time together.
Jonathan Glass, Interim Activities Coordinator in the Alzheimer’s ward said the singing group is just one of the weekly activities that involves the kids and Martha & Mary residents. Others include work groups where the two generations work on a projects like crafts or cooking and the Thursday ice cream socials.
“By far, the most popular,” Glass said with a smile.
During the year, the residents also host activities like trick-or-treating and an Easter egg hunt for the children.
But underneath the fun, Glass said there is a real, tangible benefit that the residents receive from interacting with the children.
“The kids give the residents such wonderful smiles on their faces. They can really picture them as someone they know, their children or the grandchildren,” he explained. “Even the residents who won’t interact with the staff will interact with the kids.”
Henness said she saw definite pluses for the children who were involved in the visit as well.
“It really reminded me of when I was in preschool. I wish I’d been introduced to these kind of situations,” she said. “It really made me see what my platform is all about.”
Miss Poulsbo Program Director Michele Nilsen-Wasson said the Miss Poulsbo Organization was already well acquainted with Martha & Mary and pleased that Henness chose it for work on her platform. Wasson’s grandmother lived at the center until her death and her grandfather, George Snelson, who was one of the founders of the Chamber of Commerce and the Miss Poulsbo Pageant, still lives there.
“Martha & Mary is such a wonderful place to be,” Wasson commented. “It’s not a place you go to die. It’s a place you go to live out the rest of your life in a wonderful atmosphere.”
Henness has been volunteering at Martha & Mary during the last month and plans to visit regularly throughout her year. Besides the singing group, Henness said she’s really enjoyed volunteering during the weekly Glamour Hour, where residents can get manicures and pedicures and the women can get their nails painted.
Henness said cosmetology, especially for elderly clients, is something that interests her, but the interaction with the residents has been the real joy so far.
“It’s really interesting because so many of them I get to talk to them one on one and hear about their lives,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the next year. Every single time you leave here, you feel so good because you’ve helped someone.”
