A new program designed to help decrease feelings of isolation for seniors and parents on parental leave is a big hit.

Allie Boyd, a social worker with Eastern Health, was working in Geriatrics when she got an idea to pair up seniors and babies after the seniors loved talking about her pregnancy.

She started The Circle of Life Program through the Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Lions Club. Where babies under the age of 18 months go and visit seniors in retirement homes and sing songs, watch the babies play, and pass on advice to new parents.

Boyd says the program has been well received with her first two visits filling up almost immediately.

She says the hope of the program is to promote the social and emotional well-being of seniors and babies and empower seniors and make them feel a sense of purpose in helping the younger generations.

Boyd says she’d love if other Lions Clubs would join in on the program; If any retirement homes or parents wish to get involved, they can join her Facebook group called Circle of Life Program—Little Lions.