I photographed children and residents at Providence Mount St. Vincent, an assisted living center and nursing home in West Seattle. The Mount houses almost 300 residents, as well as the Intergenerational Learning Center, a daycare facility. One hundred and twenty five children attend the ILC, ranging from six weeks to kindergarten ready. The average age of the residents is 92.
Resident Charlotte Zemanek, 87, searches for letter beads with Amelia Stone, 4.
(Clockwise from top) Resident Charlotte Zemanek, 87; Amelia Stone, 4; and Theo Ninburg, 5, search for letter beads to spell out their names.
Lucille Garcia, 3, watches her teacher, Heidi Fray, string beads.
Resident Fern Hamblen, 94, hands a sensory ball to Xander Korn, 11 months. Babies visit with residents every Tuesday morning.
Xander Korn, 11 months, reaches out for a sensory ball from resident Fern Hamblen, 94.
Resident Helene Walling, 84, plays peek-a-boo with Hazel Barley, 2, and Dylan Williams, 2.
Resident Helene Walling, 84, reaches out to stroke 9-month-old Nora Peterson’s hair. Baby teacher Karin Borba is collecting the sensory balls to bring back to their classroom.
Both babies – Nora Peterson, 9 months, and Xander Korn, 11 months – started crying when it was time to go. Baby teacher Karin Borba (left) waves goodbye while pulling their wagon away. The residents who came to see the babies are (from left) Fern Hamblen, 94; Harriet Thompson, 94; and Helene Walling, 84.
Mayzie Cannady, 4, holds up her completed miniature drawing in her art class. Marie McPherson, 88, of West Seattle, and resident Peter Kok also attended the class.
Mayzie Cannady, 4, sitting next to resident Peter Kok, rests her head on the table while listening to the teacher describe the project for the class. Everyone went around the table and talked about their favorite winter activity, and drew illustrations on small notecards.