Youths Cheer Elderly With a Little Noise, a Lot of Love : Seniors: Fourth-grade students in Canoga Park forged bonds with residents of Beverly Manor Convalescent Home during visits.

At least once a month since January, life at the Beverly Manor Convalescent Home has been infused with a somewhat noisy burst of energy.

Filling the home’s usually quiet hallways with the enthusiasm of their youth, 28 fourth-graders from Capistrano Avenue Elementary School in Canoga Park have visited the residents on a regular basis during most of this school year.

The children have brought smiles to the faces of the seniors.

But the students’ visit last week was tinged with sadness. Though the residents were happy to see the fourth-graders again, they knew that this would be the last time they’d see their young friends before school let out for the summer.

“They’ve brought a lot of love into this home,” said resident Minnie Cohen, who, at 88, matches the fourth-graders’ enthusiasm to carry on a conversation.

“Every child here has a happy face,” she said. “I’m really proud to be included in their activities. I’ll miss them when they’re gone. We’re all friends.”

The students’ monthly field trips to Beverly Manor, which were coordinated by fourth-grade teacher Kristine Valentine to increase the children’s awareness of senior concerns, have added variety to what can be a routine existence for the residents, home officials said.

During their visits, the young visitors held a number of events for the Beverly Manor residents. Among them were a student square-dance show in February and an all-day picnic in May--held in honor of National Nursing Home Week--that included a sing-along and light outdoor games.

Other activities have included playing catch and performing calisthenics with the seniors, both forms of physical therapy regularly scheduled by the home.

To commemorate the friendships that have formed this school year, the students presented the residents Thursday with a collage they made that depicts the park near Beverly Manor where the May picnic was held. The picture is made of construction paper from prints cut in the shape of the children’s hands. Written above the park scene are the words: “Forever Friends.”

Such signs of affection, home officials said, has lifted the residents’ spirits tremendously.

“They react so positively whenever the students are around,” said Lin Hollinger, director of nursing services. “They consider these students as they do their own family.”

Cohen couldn’t agree more. “We all come from different places,” she said. “But, look how we interact. We get along so well.”

Valentine noted that feeling comfortable around the seniors wasn’t always so easy for the fourth-graders. Because of some residents’ severe disabilities, she said, some children were initially nervous about interacting with them.

“Originally, many of them were frightened . . . ,” Valentine said. “They’d never been around people so incapacitated. But after each visit, we talked about what it must be like to be in that condition and about the importance of friendship.”

Eventually, Valentine said, the children began to realize that, no matter how old they are, people always need friends.

“We’ll be doing this again when school starts back up,” she said. “These residents have interesting things to tell the children.”

Carlos Portocarerro, 10, found that out when he met 88-year-old Maria Blanco, who, like him, was born in Lima, Peru.

When Carlos made this discovery, he began asking Blanco questions in Spanish about life in South America when she was growing up.

“The economy was strong there when I was young,” Blanco said. “Things were safe. When I left, you couldn’t even walk to the corner without being afraid. That’s what life has become like there. Nobody cares.”

Upon leaving her last week, Carlos glanced back at Blanco and said: “We’ll be back in September.”