- November 15, 2024
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They didn’t mean to make her cry, but one of the first times Aaron Carll and Ernest Ardon visited Flagler Pines they “yelled” at an older woman. At least that’s what she thought.
“We knew she wasn’t able to hear well, but we were talking too loudly,” Ernest said. “She got all teary because she thought we were yelling at her.”
Since that visit the two sophomores, and the other members of their Community Problem Solving team, have learned some tricks. They know this resident has good hearing in her right ear, so that is where their conversations are now directed.
“Our first activity was getting to know them,” Ernest said. “We are learning interaction skills.”
The CmPS group’s email says it all: [email protected]. The students are learning about the past, while they share the future.
“Our main goal is to make the connection between the elderly and the youth stronger,” Ernest said. “We feel in our community that connection isn’t there, and we feel that it can be improved.”
The team, which consists of eight students, tries to visit the residents, bi-weekly. After the New Year they plan to also start visiting the residents at Las Palmas Assisting Living in Palm Coast.
“Flagler Pines is very secluded and they don’t get a lot of visitors, so anytime we can go and visit, and spruce up their day, and hang out with them, we do,” Aaron said.
The teens have monthly themes for their visits. Recently they checked out iPads from the school media center for the residents to learn how to use. The students showed them FaceTime, and the residents had a chance to have a video chat using the iPads.
“Our main goal is to make the connection between the elderly and the youth stronger.” Ernest Ardon, FPC Community Problem Solver
One woman told them she had lived in Germany during World War II. The students helped her to find her home town on Google map.
“It’s a new experience for them,” Zach Verdi said.
December is a time for parties, and it was no different at Flagler Pines.
“We had a Christmas party for them and brought the FPC band,” Aaron said. “Max (Romero) dressed up as Santa.”
The party included food, plates and napkins, the latter being something special to one resident.
“One lady took her napkin back to her room. She told us she collects napkins because they hold memories,” Saige Brey said.
It may be a school project, but the students are making some unexpected friends.
“Miss Georgia is the sweetest lady, and calls us ‘the boys,’” Max said. “I told her I wanted to be a veterinarian, and when I leave she tells me to promise that I will continue.”
Diego Valdasarri has some definite ideas for the project in the New Year.
“I want to expand the technology program. I want to see a permanent technology program, so they can communicate with their families.”
“The first half of this school year has been about bringing the community to them,” Aaron said. “The second half will be more challenging, but we want to bring them to the community. Our principal said we might be able to get the auditorium to give us some tickets for concerts. Bring them to the youth.”
