Happy faces at the first meeting between primary school students Odoorn and the elderly with dementia

Well prepared, the children of primary school de Weiert from Odoorn walk towards residential care center de Paasbergen. For the first time, they will meet elderly people with dementia as part of a special ‘adoption project’.

Yet there is also some tension: “That’s because I don’t know exactly what to do anymore,” admits eleven-year-old Sander.

Divided into six groups, the students spread through Treant’s building. There are about four students per room with the residents. The tension upon arrival quickly turns into relaxation after the first cautious conversations get going.

Not much later, a shuffleboard is placed on the table and a supervisor of the residents plugs in the plug of a special experience TV. On that large screen, the students can make puzzles with residents, color drawings or make memories.

“It’s fun. They also react very enthusiastically like ‘yeah’ when they throw a ball in the hole,” says Sander enthusiastically. In any case, he notices that the residents smile a lot at them. “Yes, they are really nice,” says eleven-year-old Zoë. “I think it’s very cozy, you can play games with them and chat with them.”

See how the afternoon was for the residents and children here: (text continues below video)

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