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Crafts Bridge Generation Gap
By Sandy Marwick
Eagle Focus Editor

BUTLER TWP – Although the greeting cards were uniform in size, the people producing them came in all varieties Friday as a group of preschoolers and senior citizens gathered for a valentine project.

Seniors citizens at Lifesteps, a nonprofit agency devoted to helping families, aided children from the Lifesteps preschool in making the cards for their parents. The project was part of an effort to integrate the age groups that spend time each day at the facility on New Castle Road.

The senior citizens were part of the Lifesteps Geriatric Adult Day Health Services program, which provides a safe environment for adults with dementia or other medical conditions that require more supervision than senior centers provide.

“That was nice to have these little ones here,” said Joan Snyder of Slippery Rock Township, one of the geriatric clients who helped the children glue paper doilies to their cards. “They can come back any time. It makes you feel young.”

“They’re so cute and sweet,” agreed Margaret “Maggie” Hammond of Butler Township, another client at Lifesteps. “I think the little one I had in my lap was glad I helped him,” she added, noting the child seemed calmer when held.

“We call them our grandmas and grandpas,” said Carin Rasp, preschool teacher in charge of the group. “It’s a special day for us to be able to go down and leave our room.”

Since Lifesteps targets needs of entire families, staff members say the diverse range of ages is always represented at the facility, which includes programs and services for children, people with special needs, the aging and families in crisis.

Although the preschool and geriatric groups have traditionally united each Easter to color eggs, new staff members in both programs have decided to increase joint activities this year.

“It’s funny how it happened,” said Lori Williamson, supervisor of Geriatric Adult Day Health Services.

“During fire drills we meet in the same spot. We noticed my folks were doting on the kids,” she said, describing how her clients’ faces tend to brighten in the presence of the children.

“I think a lot of these kids don’t have older people in their lives,” added Kelly VanLaningham, director of children’s services at the agency. “The projects help them build respect for older people. A lot (of them) don’t have grandparents or older people in their lives.”

“It brings a different energy,” Williamson added of the interaction between the age groups. “All (of the seniors in the group) are parents or grandparents, but their families might not be here. They light up.”

Although the valentine craft was the first new project that united the groups this year, the two groups will meet again in March for Dr. Seuss’ birthday, when the seniors will read stories to the children. In coming months, preschoolers will also create artwork for the Spring Into Youth art gallery, which will be displayed on blank walls in the adult area. The annual egg-coloring project is also planned for spring months.

Once part of the national Easter Seals organization, Lifesteps became an independent organization in the mid-1990s. Lifesteps now offers services in 10 counties.

Other service include child developmental screenings, summer day camps for children, residential living for adults who are mentally challenged, communication therapy, in-home support for parents and Alzheimer’s support.

For more information on Lifesteps, log on to www.lifesteps.net.

This article appeared in the February 15, 2005 issue of the Butler Eagle..