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Show Thursday, September 23, 19W, THE DAILY HERALD, Seniors Page 5 Foster Grandparents provide love like no one else can By JOSEPHINE ZIMMERMAN The Daily Herald PROVO Why would anyone want to go to work at the age of 80? Marie Teasdale, Provo, was recruited by her daughter-in-lafor the Foster Grandparent Program, and she loves, every minute of it. Like other Foster Grandparents, she works 20 hours a week at the job. Currently she is working with second grade students at Sunset Elementary School in Provo. "It took a lot of years to get me into it, and I love it. It's a thrill when you see a little boy move up three grades in reading when you work with him It's a thrill," she said. "You love them and give theni a little pat on the back give them a little confidence." one-on-on- e. GAE DUERSCH, American Fork, has a different type of job in the program. She works at. the Utah State Developmental Center, and her clients can be 60 to 65 years of age. "I give them love," she said. "I sing to them, read to them, ' take them for walks and go with them when they go places (like the crafts center or work center). You fall in love with these people. You care about them," she declared. Ingrid Perkins, Payson, is in her fourth year of working with students at Parkview Elementary School in Payson. She's gone from first to second to kindergarten at the school and during the summer helped with a program for children of migrant families. "It's amazing how these chil six-wee- k dren improve with some help," she said. Carol Morrow and Cheri Teasdale, who supervise the Foster Grandparent Program, say they have 35 people involved in the program. Most are working in the elementary schools from Lehi to Goshen, but there are others who work in the youth program at the Utah State Hospital, at the Youth Detention Center, at the newborn intensive care center at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and at the crisis nursery operated by the Family Support and Treatment Center in Orem. one-to-on- e J ) (L Aff they have a different role, although it still involves love. 'The youths there are mad at their parents, mad at the law and mad at the staff. But the Grandparents are people they don't have to be mad at," Teasdale said. "They can reach the kids like nobody else can." At the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, sometimes the parents of the newborns in intensive care can't be there. The Grandparents can offer the love and touching the babies need. They've found the babies who receive this extra care can usually leave the hospital a week earlier than those who M fvS X ' i- ? r Services Provided: Personal Care Assistance Dressing Bathing Grooming Medical Assistance Three Delicious Meals Daily Housekeeping & Laundry Services ASSOCIATES AREA RUG LIQUIDATION Beautiful nugs at a gueat pnfce I 4X6 Rags ss Slanting at I ? WnmU MADE ( -n 1088 East 390 South American Fork Utah 84003 phone Fax F-r- e their schooling. At the Detention Center, ' "i3rV physical, the stipend and transportation where needed. Three of the primary requirements are: Are you 60 or older? Do you love children? Could you use an extra $200 a month? Steve Peterson Interiors d C" , or are in families with serious problems," she reported. Grandparents receive a stipend of $200 a month for their work. Working as part of the National Senior Service, they receive many benefits, including a daily meal, a yearly CHILDREN WHO are brought to the crisis nursery at the Family Support and Treatment Center are also in need of love. "Often they are children who have been abused THE FIVE Foster Grandparents working at the State Hospital are on the job by 6:30 a.m., creating a family-typ- e atmosphere for the children hospitalized there. Teasdale said they get the children out of bed, get them dressed with their teeth brushed, fix breakfast for them, take them to the hospital-operateschool and help with "X. J don't, 'Teasdale said. I Private Rooms & Suites Beauty & barber shop Library Activity & Social Opportunities Respite Care Many more amenities Steve Peterson ' Interiors & Murray ASSOCIATES t caxpetMAX FJooricg Ccater-fou- 174 add TiCatirmj.id 264 E. 6400 S. 2614200 g BBS Orpaiatioct&oftidtt witevepetermiit.02S MosL-F- rl IU; Sat 115 Pleasant Grove 285 East State Road 7S5-30- 56 onwm 1 1 .t |
