For 15 years, a rural school district in Iowa has partnered with a local nursing home to bring joy to its residents.
The BCLUW cross country team visits Oakview Nursing Home several times each fall. Coaches and nursing home staff said the activity benefits students and residents alike.
The team pushes about 15 residents in wheelchairs around the area about five times a season. Coach Donna Ficus said it’s a good way to get some exercise while building connections.
“I always tell my kids, especially when it comes to running, it’s 90 percent mental. You have to let your body decide how far you’re willing to go,” Ficus said. “When I work with nursing home residents, I think they realize that one day this body will not be the same.”
Even during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, residents and students were able to stay connected through outdoor, masked visits.
The family said residents look forward to the event year-round because the high school is across the street. Many athletes choose the same residents to walk with each time they visit.
“Our residents love going for walks and watching the leaves change color,” said Kelly Case, Oakview’s director of activities. “They love the whole experience of doing something different.”
Some students have relatives who are residents, but nursing homes say some of the people living there don’t get to see their families very often, and connecting with someone can have a huge impact. It is said that there is.
Oakview said it is encouraging other facilities and schools in the region to work together to expand similar programs.
“When our residents have more social interaction, they are happier and, in turn, stay healthier,” said Oak View Administrator Kara Butler.
The residents and the team also share a common interest in football, so when the Iowa vs. Iowa State game comes around each year, they wear their colors to show their support for the team. With Conrad sandwiched between the two schools, competition is even more intense, staffers said.
Coach Fikas said this activity each season allows students to build bonds with residents and allows them to return to and visit friends’ homes after graduation.
“We always tell our kids to think about them, not themselves,” Ficus said. “We have kids in this community who have hearts and care, and I think that’s what we need more of.”
The team and the nursing home said they plan to continue the program for years to come.
(Iowa News Now Sports anchor Owen Sebring contributed video to this article.)
