Nursing Home Residents Share "Friendship Circle" with Girl Scouts

Generations apart, residents from The New Jewish Home’s Westchester skilled nursing facility, Sarah Neuman, joined the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Girl Scouts' “friendship circle” for a Saturday afternoon Tea Party – and to test out the new wheelchair accessible ramp that the seniors helped fund.

Sarah Neuman enjoys a long-standing connection to the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Girl Scouts. In 2017, when residents and staff learned that a young scout from Troop 2997 needed a wheelchair accessible ramp in order to take part in the events there, they sprang into action and, with other members of the local community, hosted an intergenerational fundraiser called “Walk and Roll” to raise funds for the project. The joint effort raised $27,000 for the ramp and other modifications to the Girl Scouts House.

The new ramp, which now allows troop members, family and friends of all abilities to easily access the building and participate in activities, received a big “thumbs-up” from the Sarah Neuman residents on Saturday.

“Sarah Neuman has been a proud member of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck community for over 25 years,” said Sandra Mundy, Administrator for The New Jewish Home, Sarah Neuman. “Intergenerational events like today’s Tea Party provide our residents the chance to form meaningful friendships while the Scouts learn valuable life lessons from the wisdom and experience of older adults.”

The Tea Party event kicked off with reciting the Girl Scouts Promise and Girl Scouts Law, and offered an afternoon of engaging activities for both young and old, which is a critical part of The New Jewish Home’s continuous efforts to promote intergenerational programs and partnerships.

The Girl Scouts heard stories and life-long lessons on friendship, a pillar of the Girl Scouts values, from the older adults, and collaborated on an arts and crafts project to take home. The afternoon concluded with tea and treats as the Scouts received their “Making Friends” badges.

New York State Assemblyman Steven Otis and Westchester Deputy County Executive Kenneth Jenkins participated in the event.

ABOUT THE NEW JEWISH HOME: Founded in 1848, The New Jewish Home serves 9,000 older adults of all faiths and ethnicities each year in their homes, on campuses in Manhattan and Westchester and in senior housing residences in the Bronx. As a comprehensive community benefit health care system, Jewish Home delivers dignified care that meets the evolving needs of people as they age. Offering an unparalleled integrated care continuum, Jewish Home provides specialized short-term rehabilitation; long term skilled nursing with expert dementia and palliative care; adult day health care; geriatric care management and a wide range of home health programs. The New Jewish Home is a proud partner and founding agency of UJA-Federation of New York. For more information, visit www.jewishhome.org.