Kindergarten in a nursing home brings young and old happily together

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. — A couple of weeks from now, the halls of Windsor Place nursing home will seem empty. The rooms a little quiet.

Who's going to sing the morning song, often "You Are My Sunshine"? What about exercises? Whose laughter will draw in the seniors — or "grandmas" and "grandpas," as they're called here — and get them to move those arms and legs?

And better yet, who will turn the pages of a book for Betty Umbarger, her left hand unable to as it rests paralyzed in her lap, her fingers curled in a ball.

"Oh, I'm going to miss them," said Grandma Betty, seconds before a group of 5- and 6-year-olds filled the small reading room at the nursing facility. "Goodness, yes."

Nine months ago nobody knew for sure what would happen inside Windsor Place when it became home to a class of Coffeyville kindergartners. Never before had a Kansas school or nursing home tried this, tried merging the old and young in a way for each to learn from the other.

Sure, organizers hoped some good things would happen. But as they watched the class of 21 students in their white, paper graduation caps this week, they said they didn't expect this. Not in just one year.

"The synergy between the two has exceeded all of our expectations," said Monte Coffman, executive director of Windsor House, who pushed for the age-to-age program, which will get a new class of kindergartners in August.

They couldn't have known late last summer the transformations, in the young and old, they would see through the seasons.

Take Diane Jones, 84. She has early-stage dementia and would often just stay in her room, away from the other residents. Now she sits with the children every day and dresses in clothes she thinks the children will like, shirts with pictures of Betty Boop on them or furry dogs.

The kindergartners asked Grandma Diane, a class favorite, to sing with them during their graduation program.

And the kids, they've learned compassion and kindness, how to be patient as they wait behind someone in a wheelchair or using a walker. At home they talk about how the very young and old are alike and how grandma or grandpa so and so lived when they were young.

They've also become strong readers, blossoming from the everyday praise and guidance from the seniors.

"We knew it would be beneficial for our kids," said teacher Sherri Chittum. "But we didn't know how much."

A little boy who has trouble communicating with people has connected with one of the grandmas. He high fives her in the hall. Talks to her, even looks into her eyes as he's doing it.