Residents from Seton Health’s Schuyler Ridge Residential Health Care Center in Clifton Park partnered with students from a religious education class at St. Edward the Confessor church to learn about each other.
The residents and students met for several hours throughout an eight-week period, during which the students compiled the residents’ life stories, which were organized into scrapbook with photos by the residents and staff at Schuyler Ridge.
It’s important for the students to see that people in nursing homes have very vibrant lives, said Christie Keiser, director of youth ministry for St. Edward the Confessor.
One pair, resident Jean Langlais and student Alyssa Siniapkin, shared their experience in working on the project together.
`She’s a very sweet girl,` Langlais said of Siniapkin.
Siniapkin plans to volunteer at the center even though she completed the project.
`It was fun,` Siniapkin said. `I learned a lot about Jean’s life and how it is different than mine.`
Langlais spoke easily about her experiences growing up in the Capital District and her six daughters whom she visits with frequently.
Born in Troy, Langlais grew up with her mom, dad, two brothers and sister, according to Siniapkin’s story.
One of the most interesting pieces of information Siniapkin said she had gathered during her meeting with Langlais was about how Langlais once obtained a hunting license.
Langlais said she did not hunt much after having her children, but when she and her husband first got married, they used to go to target practice all the time.
She used to look in the bushes for bears when they went hunting because she was afraid of them, Siniapkin wrote.
Langlais has been a resident of Schuyler Ridge for three years, where she participates in several of the center’s activities.
The center holds several activities for the residents, including nightly movies, trips to the library and religious services.
`It’s really about trying to meet their needs before they were here,` said activities director and volunteer coordinator Jim Kelly.
He said for those with active, independent lives before entering the home, they have a lax policy on leaving. As long as the resident signs out, they are allowed to leave the premises.
This is one of Langlais’ favorite things about the residence according to Siniapkin’s story.
`The residents and children worked well together,` Kelly said.
The students presented their stories to the residents’ family and friends during a reception Monday, May 5, at Schuyler Ridge.
Twenty-one residents and students participated in the program.
The idea for the program came from a high school volunteer who took notes about his visits with a resident; and compiled his notes to write a memoriam for the resident when he died, Kelly said.“