LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / October 7, 2000

DESTREHAN – Laughter and squeals of little children suddenly filled the halls at Evangeline of Ormond Nursing Center, bringing unaccustomed light to many eyes.

It was Thursday, and time for the weekly visit by children from the New Sarpy Kindergarten Center, located across Ormond Boulevard from the nursing center.

The children, shepherded by Dr. Janell Perez, came in a mini-caravan of toywagons, laden with “Barney” books and the like, eager to visit with their “adopted great-grandparents.” Average age of the children – 4.Just prior to the visit residents sat mutely watching “Martha Stewart Living.” Then, slowly, several more residents came into the dayroom, some inwheelchairs, some with walkers.

Then the explosion of sound by scurrying little feet brought smiles to their faces. Arms reached out for hugs, and the children, themselves practicingreading skills, scooted up next to them and opened their books.

A couple of the children, new to the experience and perhaps not too comfortable around senior citizens, hung back with some reluctance. Perez,with soothing voice and coaxing arms, encouraged match-ups with children and adults.

Soon, the children were deep into sharing their stories about trains and tigers and dinosaurs, the residents nodding and smiling.

“We wanted to establish a regular relationship with the community and service, in a way,” Perez said. “You can tell from the expressions on theirfaces, even if they can’t communicate very well, that they’re happy to see them.”The visit lasted only a half-hour and, for some residents, that was far too short a time to enjoy the youth and energy of their visitors.

Perez noted that many student groups visit nursing centers only on holidays and there were not many visitors, if any, for some residents in the course of an average week.

This led to regular Thursday morning visits, and the residents, according to activities director Norma Nicholas, are eager for the valuable time spent.

“They always enjoy the children,” Nicholas said.

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