On our first visit, the manager, Mr Patrick Change, took our children on an orientation tour. To help the children understand how the centres operate, he explained to them that the centres are similar to the childcare centre they attend. Instead of children, seniors with dementia attend the centres daily to do some activities and exercises to improve their health. The children were shown some equipment used. The children were also given the opportunity to have a go on the equipment.
On our second visit, the children sang and danced for the seniors. The children even sang a dialect song as we were told that a number of seniors spoke dialect. The seniors especially enjoyed the songs that reminded them of their childhood.
After the performance, the children went around to meet the seniors who were very friendly and eager to interact with. The children were at first a bit apprehensive and shy when interacting with the seniors, in particular those in wheelchairs. The children soon warmed up to them, especially once they started playing games with the seniors. They played games that were simple enough for the children and which seniors with disabilities could also participate in, like building towers with plastic cups.
The visit helped the children to understand what the seniors do at the centres and to better relate to them, like their own grandparents. The children also understand better how their singing and dancing could cheer up the seniors who expressed a lot of appreciation for their performance. The children were enthusiastic about performing again for the seniors in the future.
