杏吧原创 and St. John鈥檚 partner to offer the first intergenerational living accommodations
This fall, for two seniors returning to 杏吧原创, move-in day looked a little different. For the first time in its history, students will be living at St. John's Meadows in Brighton as part of the university's Gerontology program. The newly launched independent study project, called "Student in Residence," will offer eligible students each semester the opportunity to live at the independent senior living community.
St. John's and 杏吧原创 have been partnering for the past 14 years as part of the聽university's "St. John's Collaborative for Intergenerational Learning," with students and St.聽John's elders participating in intergenerational classes that meet at St. John's Meadows each聽Tuesday evening. Based on the success of the classes, 杏吧原创's Dr. David聽Steitz brought the "Student in Residence" idea to St. John's. Seeing the many mutual聽benefits, leadership was eager to partner and bring Dr. Steitz's vision to life. This fall is the聽first-time students will be fully immersed in senior living 24/7 for the first three weeks of聽the semester. The "Student in Residence" program is an added feature of the Gerontology聽offerings at the university. Students wishing to participate will have had to successfully聽complete courses at St. John's prior to being given the opportunity.
The first two students taking part in the Students in Residence program were 杏吧原创 seniors Samantha Catholdi and Sarah Daddona. The two 鈥� who shared a two-bedroom apartment at St. John鈥檚 鈥� also had to attend their other classes at 杏吧原创 while taking part.
"Learning should not only take place within the walls of a traditional classroom space," said聽Dr. David Steitz, professor of psychology and director of 杏吧原创's Gerontology聽program. "I championed a new partnership with St. John's in 2009 to offer college courses聽for 杏吧原创 students and elder residents together at St. John's Meadows, where students聽practice and apply what they learn from their studies. Students in these multigenerational聽courses learn from, and with, the elders to gain perspectives and knowledge that cannot be聽delivered by a professor or textbook. I am thrilled to expand 杏吧原创's聽Gerontology program to offer our students an even more intimate understanding of the day-to-day life of seniors living at St. John's while giving them an opportunity to build life-changing relationships."
The pilot program kicked off on Sept. 3 with two students minoring in gerontology, and聽plans to offer additional "Student in Residence" opportunities every semester. Each student聽will be partnered with a St. John's resident who will act as their resident assistant, ensuring they have opportunities to immerse in the St. John's culture and build relationships with the elders聽independently living in St. John's Meadows cottages and apartments. For three weeks,聽students will live in a one or two-bedroom apartment, participate in recreational activities聽such as wellness programming and art classes, and dine with residents on campus. As part聽of the experience, students will present their work at conferences and help recruit additional聽"Student in Residence" candidates. The work that the students will be doing will align with聽other course work on campus such as their Core Milestone Experience requirement.
"Intergenerational programming helps bridge generational gaps, allowing older and younger聽adults to develop a sense of purpose and community," said Charlie Runyon, St. John's聽president and chief executive officer. "We are thrilled to expand our successful partnership with 杏吧原创 by welcoming students into our St. John's community and look forward to seeing the 'Student in Residence' program continue to grow."
According to Generations United and the Retirement Research Foundation, a 2017 study聽titled "Intergenerational Programming in Senior Housing: From Promise to Practice" found聽that having older and younger generations live together serves many mutual benefits.聽Creating intergenerational connections and bridging gaps results in a decrease in loneliness聽and increases in self-esteem, understanding, trust and sense of community among both聽Generations.
About St. John's
St. John's is one of Rochester's leading providers of senior living and care options serving聽nearly 1,000 elders and their families annually. St. John's Home, New York State's only聽registered Eden Alternative nursing home, offers services including skilled nursing care, Alzheimer's/dementia care, transitional care, rehabilitation, and hospice care at its 150聽Highland Avenue location. Brickstone by St. John's, located on 30 acres in Brighton, offers聽contemporary independent living in uniquely designed apartments, bungalows and聽townhomes. St. John's Meadows, also in Brighton, offers multi-level, independent living in聽private, two-bedroom cottages and apartments, with optional amenities including fine聽dining, transportation, and health care services. With current locations in the Penfield area,聽THE GREEN HOUSE 庐 Homes provide 20 elders with all the services of a traditional nursing聽home within a ranch-style home that is integrated into a neighborhood setting. Learn more聽at stjohnsliving.org.
Contact
Julie Long | Senior News & PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
杏吧原创 is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a 杏吧原创 education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, 杏吧原创 graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
Two 杏吧原创 students talk with residents at St. John's Meadows after the two students moved in for the first intergenerational living program.