DHS careers advisor Judith Smith said the Adopt-a-Resident program was run only during term three and involved volunteers from Year 10. Some 25 students visited the aged care facility every fortnight.

“This is the tenth year the school has been coming up here,” she said.

“I don’t know who gets the most enjoyment from the visit... the students or residents.

“They are here for around 50 minutes spending time with the residents and it’s very hard to drag them away and back to school.

“When we go back to school after the first visit we discuss what it was like for them and if they don’t want to continue, then it’s okay.

“However we’ve never had anyone who has said they don’t want to go back.”

Mrs Smith said the nursing home staff was very supportive and organised activities for residents to coincide with the student visit. 

Lara’s lifestyle coordinator Annmaree Rooke said it is good for the younger generation to interact with older residents.

“The activities we have organised here allows both the residents and the students to talk and have something in common,” she said.

“The residents are always asking ‘when are they coming again’ and they get very motivated during their visits.”

Student Alanna Peacock said she became involved in the program “because it’s something to do that involves the community”.

“It’s also a lot of fun,” she said.

“I know that we have to talk slowly and clearly for them to understand and hear us.

“When we got there for the first time, the ladies were a bit quiet but by the end of the visit they were laughing and having fun with us.

“I will definitely be going back again.”