Caring for Seniors - Nursing Home Visit on1 December 2024 by Buddha's Light Scouts Queensland

Nursing Home Visit
Messengers of Peace project for the Scouts to care for seniors. On 1 December 2024, Buddha’s Light Scouts visited Algester Nursing home and provided musical and dance performances, gifts, and greeting to the residents there.
There were 60 participants including Scouts and Leaders. We have great affinity with Algester Nursing Home as this was the 3rd year we visited the home. During the 3 years of Coronavirus outbreak, the Scouts made cards and posted it to the residents and staff at Algester Nursing home so that the elders do not feel isolated.
It was a great opportunity for the Scouts to engage with elders, and this helps them develop communication skills, empathy, respect, compassion, and patience towards the elderly. Also, learning deeper knowledge and understanding of the world around them. Elders, on the other hand, can benefit from mental stimulation and the opportunity to stay connected with societal changes and trends through interactions with younger generations.
The Scouts for each section performed a dance, and some Scouts performed on the music instruments like piano and violin. Together with leaders, we performed 19 musical performances. The elders enjoyed the performances as they clapped and sing along.
The seniors happily received the gifts, cards, and crafts made by the Scouts.
Generosity starts with thinking about how others feel. It’s important to teach our Scouts about the joy of giving and nurturing them to practise the acts of kindness and compassion.
This year, the Scouts have contributed their own pocket money towards the gifts for the residents of Algester Nursing home and gifts for students in severe need and hardship.
Together with the support from BLIAQ Logan Branch members, we have
raised $2000 towards the gifts. We prepared 80 gift bags to Algester Nursing home and 40 toiletry gifts to the students at Arethusa College who are in severe need and hardship.
The Scouts packed and prepared all gift bags themselves a week before the nursing home visit and it is great that they can be involved throughout this process of giving.
The Scouts had the opportunity to visit low care and high care areas during
the visit to the nursing home, performing and distributing gifts. They learned about old age through this activity and gained understanding of the senior community by spending time and having conversations with them.
This activity allowed the Scouts to practise giving, saying kind words, and doing kind deeds. This is what Buddha’s Light Scouts is about, practising the 3 acts of goodness by saying good words, doing good deeds, and thinking good thoughts.
The Scouts greeted and had conversations with the elderly at the nursing home. They have learned to be more patient, kind, and compassionate towards the elderly.
They all have had a great time today serving the elder community.
Comments below from Scouts who visited the nursing home descripted of how they felt at nursing home visit
▶️ Clemance
Visiting the nursing home for the 3rd time was very wholesome and eye opening, it felt very rewarding to perform for the elderly as they clapped and sing along with us, hopefully making their day. Some of them in high care may have acted differently as they were quite old however we all learnt to treat them all with respect and be compassionate as becoming old is just a part of life.
▶️ Javiar
1. The nursing home visit was a valuable experience, helping us learn important life lessons and connect with older generations
2. It’s an opportunity for us to not only brighten someone's day but also to grow emotionally and socially in a meaningful way.
3. It teaches us the importance of respect and understanding for people of all ages, helping us develop social skills that are crucial for building relationship