become deeplyintertwined. Residentswhodidn’tneed
significant assistance worked as tutors and school
librarians.WhenclassesstudiedWorldWarII,theymet
withveteranswhogavefirsthandaccountsofwhatthey
werestudyingintheirtexts.Studentscameinandoutof
NewBridge daily, as well. The younger students held
monthly events with the residents—art shows, holiday
celebrations, or musical performances. Fifth and sixth
graders had their fitness classes together with the
residents.Middleschoolersweretaughthowtoworkwith
those who have dementia and took part in a buddy
program with the nursing home residents. It was not
unusual for children and residents to develop close
individual relationships. One boy who befriended a
residentwith advanced Alzheimer’swasevenasked to
speak at the man’s funeral.
“Those little kids are charmers,” said Rita Kahn. Her
relationshipwiththechildrenwasoneofthetwomost
gratifyingpartsofherdays,shetoldme.Theotherwas
the classes she was able to take.
“Theclasses!Theclasses!Ilovetheclasses!”Shetooka
current events class taught by one of the residents in
independent living. When she learned that President
Obamahad notyetvisitedIsraelaspresident,shefired
off an e-mail to him.
“IreallyfeltIhadtotellthismantogetoffhisbumand
go to Israel stat.”
Itseemedlikethiskindofplacemightbeunaffordable.
Buttheseweren’twealthypeople.RitaKahnhadbeena
medical records administrator and her husband a high