Sandy Hook Students Look Into The Lives Of Another Generation

By Tanjua Damon

An intergenerational program brought smiles from both young and old last week as Sandy Hook School fourth graders learned what life is like for senior citizens in a nursing home last week with a visit to Ashlar of Newtown.

The fourth graders have been enjoying the company of Ashlar residents once a month at school and last week were able to see what the life of their elderly friends is like with a visit to their home. The group also enjoys a picnic at the end of the year.

“You’re going to learn what it is like to live here, said Carl Anderson, therapy and recreation manager. “The people who come here live here. It’s our responsibility to take care of them like we live in our lives.”

The fourth graders were told people range in age from 85 to 104 as they toured the nursing home. Mr Anderson told the students that the people there have different health issues.

“There are people who are in wheelchairs; people who might be hard of hearing,” he said. “Maybe they can’t see you. But mostly it’s people who are older.”

The students brought St Patrick’s Day cards with them to share with the senior citizens at Ashlar. Many smiles graced the faces of the elderly who received cards and spoke with the students from Sandy Hook.

The students met the oldest resident at Ashlar, Elsie Roskos. Mr Anderson told the students she is 104, but thinks she is much younger.

“Our people here need help in the morning,” Mr Anderson said. “To get washed and dressed to get ready for the day.”

Two people live in each room, Mr Anderson said. They have cable television and someone cleans their rooms for them.

“If you live here you never have to clean your room,” he told the students.

Ashlar of Newtown houses 156 elderly residents who need full assistance with daily living, Mr Anderson said. Lockwood Lodge, an assisted living facility, has 48 apartments. Lockwood Lodge is for senior citizens who can live independently, but need minimal assistance.

“It’s a nice place to have people be,” Meaghan McCarthy said. “I like how they have shops and people clean your room.”

The students were shown the Special Program Room, the beauty parlor, coffee/gift shop, where residents are able to do special things for themselves.

“The coffee/gift shop is open in the morning,” Mr Anderson said. “If they come here they have to pay for it. It’s just like going to Starbucks.”

The students also met Gino, the guinea pig used during pet therapy, according to Mr Anderson. Sometimes dogs even come to visit the residents.

There are some additions being made to the facility on Toddy Hill. More apartments are being added to Lockwood Lodge as well as a bigger dinning room.

“When we built this we wanted it to be more country style,” Mr Anderson said. “But what we’re finding from our residents is that they want it to be more fancy.”

Mr Anderson told the students that the name Ashlar comes from a rock, like a cornerstone rock.

John Plunkett found the fieldtrip interesting and informative. He remembered after the tour that there are 156 residents and the oldest one is 104.

Chris Dennis felt the tour was good, but it reminded him of what happens to people as they age.

“All the residents had something wrong with them,” Chris said. “I’m kind of emotional about it. All the people here were very nice.”

After the tour the group enjoyed pizza for lunch and discussed what they saw while touring the facility.