Residents at Mercy Place Mont Clare Celebrate New Friendships

Coffee, chess and companionship are central to Thursday mornings at Mercy Place Mont Clare thanks to a new partnership with John XXIII College.

Residents at Mercy Place Mont Clare have been striking up friendships with Year 9 students from the school, who visit the home every week to chat, serve cappuccinos and food, and also play the piano for residents - all of which is aimed at encouraging companionship and connections between the young and the old.

Mercy Health Mont Clare Service Manager, Joan Lowney, said the benefits of the partnership extended both ways, with the children and residents involved genuinely enjoying their time together and forming strong bonds.

“We’re delighted by how well our intergenerational partnership with John XXIII College has been received, by both the residents and our seniors,” she said.  

“Because the boys are visiting our residents weekly, they have a genuine opportunity to build positive relationships and really get to know them.

“And the partnership is also a way for young people to learn from and respect the elderly in the wider community; they’ve certainly loved spending time with residents and many of them share the same interests, particularly playing chess and music, as well as drinking cappuccinos.”

Find out more about Mercy Health.