Smiltene schoolchildren visit care home residents for Seniors' Day

On October 1, as Latvia and the world marked the International Day of Older Persons, pupils from Smiltene Secondary School visited the Red Cross Smiltene Hospital's Social Care and Rehabilitation Unit to bring cheer to its elderly residents.

Five classes, five activities

Smiltene Secondary School has five fifth-grade classes, and all of them visited the unit around the holiday with different activities. On September 30, class 5.a, together with physical education teacher Zanda Beitika, brought gifts and demonstrated exercises they had devised themselves, encouraging the seniors to join in. Other classes played board games with residents, baked cookies, or read books together, while one class is set to hold a joint singing session with seniors on October 8.

An eight-year friendship

Teacher Ilva Dūmiņa, who started the collaboration, says that grades 4 through 6 at the school have been friends with the unit's residents and staff for at least eight years, visiting not only on Seniors' Day but on other occasions too. She notes the benefit is mutual, calling the experience valuable for the children — some even ask to return to see the seniors again.

One pupil, ten-year-old Kristers Tarasovs, who practices orienteering and takes part in the trail-running series "Stirnu buks," said it pains him to see the difficulties seniors face, and wished all elderly people good health and a happy old age.

A celebration for residents too

Anete Gendrjuka, head of the Social Care and Rehabilitation Unit, said residents who wished to attend went to a festive concert at the Smiltene Municipality Culture Centre and afterward were treated to a festive pretzel. Residents Ausma Ose and Ērika Pelaka praised the children's visits, saying they would like them to come more often.