St. Mary's brings kids, seniors together

By Christina Galeone | CFP Correspondent

WORCESTER – Back around February 2018, Sister Marie Therese Martin, a board member at both St. Mary Health Care Center and Webster Square Day Care Center, realized that the day care center badly needed a new home. As she began to search for a new location, she decided to introduce Susan Downey, the health care center’s president, to Eileen Lavallee, the day care center’s executive director. The Sister of St. Joseph said she had hoped the women could “exchange ideas and share their individual expertise.”  
But the result of the meeting was far better than what she had hoped for. The introduction not only led to a new home for the day care center, it planted a seed for a collaboration that’s now blossoming into an intergenerational program that benefits both children and seniors.
“As part of Covenant Health, St. Mary’s mission is to provide healing and care for the whole person and serve all those in our community,” said Ms. Downey, who proposed the collaboration to Ms. Lavallee shortly after they met. “Bringing children and seniors together to form meaningful relationships – where they each take on the role of student and teacher, at one time or another – is amazing to see,” she said.
This summer, St. Mary Health Care Center began renting 3,200-square feet of its 39 Queen St. location to Webster Square Day Care Center. The space – which includes a secure entrance, a kitchen, classrooms, bathrooms and an office – offers the at-risk and low-income children whom the day care center serves, a safe, healthy environment. But the collaboration between the two Catholic organizations will provide even more. It will provide intergenerational programming that benefits both organizations’ clients in a myriad of ways.
Over the years, several studies have touted the advantages of such programs. One that was published in the “Journal of Applied Gerontology” in June 2007 found that both age groups involved in an intergenerational program were positively affected. The kids and seniors experienced increased joy, higher self-esteem and a better appreciation for diversity.
During a recent visit, the positive interaction was evident.
“I’m in seventh heaven right now,” Vicky Kirby, a resident of St. Mary Health Care Center, said when playing with children at the day care center.
Children were part of her life early on – she had nine siblings.
On top of that, “my parents fostered for Catholic Charities for 10 years,” taking in babies, she said. “Of course, we all helped.”
Ms. Lavallee is excited about implementing the new activities. She said that the new intergenerational program will include music and movement activities, crafts, monthly birthday celebrations, holiday celebrations, gardening and art and literature activities. She also said that the Webster Square education coordinator and the St. Mary activity director will work closely together to plan activities that will benefit both sets of clients.  
“Without a doubt, I’m most excited about the endless opportunities to expose our kids to an intergenerational curriculum and consistently partner with our new neighbors,” said Ms. Lavallee, who added that she and the rest of her team are incredibly appreciative of everyone who has helped make the collaboration possible. “And to be able to do it in a clean, bright, happy, healthy and safe space alongside a program that has similar values and views regarding the demographics we serve, and who have welcomed us with open arms, is a true blessing,” she said.
And it’s clear that Sister Marie Therese agrees. She reflected on how Covenant Health was founded on the vision of St. Marguerite d’Youville.
“St. Marguerite was known as the Mother of Universal Charity for her early works and has remained the inspiration to our healthcare system’s commitment to the poor and underserved,” Sister Marie Therese explained. “God bless to all those who worked to transition Webster Square to a new and wonderful home at St. Mary. In my heart, I believe this is exactly what St. Marguerite would have wanted.”