Mornington aged care resident Marion is largely non verbal, but a special friendship with 4-year-old Max is helping open up whole new lines of communication.
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Marion is a resident of Andrew Kerr Care Uniting Age Well - the launch site for the Herd Intergenerational Learning Centre.
The exciting new business, which was launched a year ago, aims to improve residents' quality of life through regular visits from children- allowing them to enjoy activities such as art, music, storytelling and shared lunches.
Andrew Kerr Care lifestyle coordinator Kelina Tokunai said Marion - who mostly communicates through body language - formed a bond with Max from the first day the intergenerational learning centre opened.
When Marion found out Max - a kind and caring child with autism and ADHD - loves music and singing, she surprised everyone by singing You are My Sunshine to him, and their bond was immediately forged.
"She's very affectionate towards him and always embraces him with a big hug," Kelina said.
"In my observations, Marion responds warmly to Max. The way they speak to each other is their own language."
"He will sit with her in concerts and they will watch the show together and at intervals share a conversation and a few giggles."
The Herd is the brainchild of sisters Anna and Fiona Glumac, whose eyes were opened to how tough the transition to aged care can be for older people after their grandmother Mary entered aged care.
"Fiona and I - who were both very close to her - just saw her spark fade," Anna said.
After she had passed, the sisters saw a documentary about an intergenerational centre in Seattle and resolved to bring the groundbreaking care model to Australia.
It took about five years to get The Herd up and running. The sisters first had to write to chief executives and leaders of the business community to gain support for the idea, and then had to find a partner centre so they could deliver the program.
Anna said there was something special about the effect children could have on people in aged care.
"I think it's (the appeal) that really simple joy that children bring," she said.
"When children laugh and smile, it automatically spreads throughout the room."
She said she had seen the positive impacts on the program on many residents, from those who are very sick and rarely leave their rooms, to those who are healthy and well socialised.
"Some people may not show a lot of movement, but even when a kid rolls them a ball, they may do some things the staff don't usually see."
The program has been so successful at Andrew Kerr Care that Uniting Age Well has already expressed an interest in expanding it to some of its other centres.
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