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Residents at Calvert Manor Healthcare
Center Enjoy Visits by Teenagers from Upper Bay Counseling
In Cecil County, two healthcare
organizations have started a new, collaborative program. Once a week, young
clients from Upper Bay Counseling and Support Services pile into a van and
go to Calvert Manor Healthcare Center. Their goal? To share some time with
the elderly patients.
“Both groups—both young and old—seem to
enjoy each other’s company,” says Mary Lander, Activities Director at
Calvert Manor. “I’m glad we’re able to work with Upper Bay Counseling to get
these two groups together. I think our patients benefit by having some
involvement with people from the outside. Also, since the kids from Upper
Bay are interested in what they have to say, our patients get a sense of
importance that their opinions really matter.”
The young clients are teenagers who attend
Upper Bay’s Therapeutic Day Program. At this program, they work on
self-improvement. For example, they learn coping skills, social skills, and
techniques to help them manage emotions.
“The kids enjoy going out to Calvert
Manor,” says Ben DeRigge, therapeutic counselor at Upper Bay. “They get
together with the older adults and work on projects or they just talk. The
kids learn a lot about history, for instance what happened in World War II,
and they gain some understanding into the values of the older generation.”
“Also the kids benefit by receiving respect
and unconditional acceptance from the older generation,” adds Amanda Frick,
therapeutic counselor at Upper Bay.
Both Frick and DeRigge accompany the teens
on their trips from Elkton to Calvert Manor in Rising Sun.
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