At Cairnsmore Place long-term care home in Duncan, an unlikely friendship has blossomed between residents and a four-year-old boy named Innis Wright. His regular visits, accompanying his grandmother Joan Wright, a former Island Health employee, have become a source of delight for residents and staff alike.
The visits began a few months ago when Wright decided to see her friend, Nancy Munro, a resident at Cairnsmore Place. "Joan and Nancy have been friends for a long time," said Don Munro, Nancy's husband. "They played field hockey together."
"When Joan would come to visit, she would quite often bring Innis," said Gail Kerrone, manager at Cairnsmore Place. "He gets so excited because he thinks the entire care home is Nancy's house. For Innis, it's an adventure to his friend Nancy's expansive home."
From left to right: Don Munro, Nancy Munro, Joan Wright, and Innis Wright
The impact of Innis's presence is apparent to the residents and staff. "Their faces light up," said Kerrone. "Children have a spirit that makes you feel good inside. Most of our folks here have families, and when they see little ones, it just changes everything about them. It's beautiful to watch."
Don shares heartwarming anecdotes about Innis's interactions. "One time, Joan told us that Innis wanted to come here because Nancy was going to have a birthday," recalled Don. "This innocent child wanted to come because he knew there would be cake."
Innis loves to help Nancy during his visits. "One time, Nancy was just coming out of her room in her wheelchair, and Innis spotted her," said Don. "He said, 'Can I push?' Anyway, he pushed her all the way down the hall. He's always eager to help."
Since then, Innis has become a regular visitor, participating in various activities with residents. "We went into the exercise class, and right away, he joined the residents and wanted the weights," said Don. "He laid down on the floor and he was just doing the exercises."
Wright believes these visits are valuable for her grandson. "I'm a big believer in children having varied experiences, not just being with their own age group and their parents," she said. "I don't agree that they should be kept separate from older people or from people who are in care."
The positive impact extends beyond individual interactions. "It makes your spirit feel good. It makes your energy feel nice,” said Kerrone. “It takes a minute and you think, wow, this is what it's all about. The whole circle of life."
While there are currently no formal programs for such visits at Cairnsmore Place, Kerrone remembers pre-COVID initiatives involving local daycares. "They would do pumpkin carving and sing Christmas carols. The residents would come in and buddy up. The children loved it, the residents loved it. They looked forward to them coming," she said.
Looking ahead, Kerrone expressed interest in reviving similar programs, though no concrete plans are in place yet. For now, the spontaneous visits from Innis continue to bring joy and energy to the residents of Cairnsmore Place, demonstrating the powerful impact of intergenerational connections in long-term care settings.
As Don put it, summing up the sentiment shared by residents and staff: "We look forward to it every time they're coming."