GOOD NEWS

My buddy and me!

They may be tiny tots, but children in Hopewell Baptist Church’s “Cubbie Buddie” program know how to love large – just ask the patients at Savannah Health Care Center, who are the lucky recipients of weekly hugs, smiles, songs, postcards and many other blessings.

“Cubbies” are 3, 4 and 5 year olds who are learning to respect their elders by spreading joy in the nursing home, but what started as lessons in caring and concern soon spread into lessons of love and friendship.

“Cubbies” adopt patients as their own special buddies. After introducing themselves through special get-to-know-you scrapbooks, the youngsters, along with their teachers and parents, visit the nursing home to deliver unique, homemade presents to their new friends. Whether they bring a postcard with a favorite Bible verse, a card they have drawn themselves or just a friendly smile and big hello, the patients look forward to spending quality time with their little pals.

“It is amazing to watch the children build such wonderful relationships with our patients,” said Tina Sexton, a social worker at Savannah Health Care. “Their teachers and parents help them with many of their projects, but the hugs, kisses and smiles … those are the things the children do on their own.”

While “cubbies” have wonderful times with their buddies, they are a joy to everyone at the nursing home and have a way of sharing their love with anyone willing to receive it. They participate in sing-a-longs and bring refreshments for all patients. But, perhaps, one of their favorite tasks is door decorating.

The children, along with their teachers and parents, often decorate patients’ doors … all 120 of them … with spiritual and seasonal greetings. After completing such a project, they visit each patient and perform concerts in each room.

Both the children and the patients are focused on their friendships. One patient told his buddy that he is his best friend, and another patient said if her arms were long enough she would hug them all at once, Sexton said. “The amazing thing is that both patient and child learn from and love each other with no expectations.”

Savannah Health Care Center has enjoyed its relationship with Hopewell Baptist Church for more than two years, and patients look forward to spending many more fun-filled moments with their buddies.

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“Good News” is a feature designed to spotlight some of the many positive aspects of long-term care in Tennessee. Know of a “good news”  item? Contact THCA’s Communications Department at info@thca.org.