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BY JOANNE KLIMOVICH HARROP
College students living in the same housing complex as senior citizens might not seem like something that would work— but for the residents of Vincentian Schenley Gardens, a personal care home in Oakland, it definitely does.
Jean Bolden, who turned 95 on the Fourth of July, and Amanda Barber, 22, a second-year doctoral occupational therapy student at Chatham University in Shadyside, are part of an intergenerational living program, a housing arrangement that intermixes older and younger people. It’s a growing trend across the world aimed at alleviating loneliness for older residents and providing mentorship for younger residents.
The arrangement is believed to help form stronger communal connections, according Chatham educators and the personal care home leadership.
Situations that invite young and old into the same shared living space definitely can be mutually beneficial, said Elizabeth Mulvaney, board president for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging, an organization with members representing more than 1 million older adults across 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Older adults might not have a lot of visitors or interaction with people who are younger than they are, aside from the medical professionals who care for them.
“Isolating people by age is not beneficial to anyone,” said Mulvaney, a clinical assistant professor in the school of social work at the University of Pittsburgh. “Having them in the same space can create a community.”
Barber feels a connection in this living space, she said as she sat in the main lounge at Schenley Gardens with Molly, her 9-year-old German shepherd-retriever mix. The student said hello to each resident, recognizing them by name as they walked, were wheeled or rolled by.
“The residents love seeing Molly,” said Barber. “Having Molly has been wonderful for me and for the residents. They have so much knowledge to share. I believe this benefits all of us. It’s a community here.”
There are 51 residents and six graduate students living at Vincentian Schenley Gardens.
As part of the program, students receive below-market monthly rent ($600-$1,400) in exchange for service hours to residents through educational workshops, social outings, parties, technology help and other assistance. There are studios and oneand two-bedroom apartments available, and the facility’s living spaces are undergoing renovations.
All apartments have full bathrooms, a living room, ample closet space and kitchens, complete with a refrigerator, sink, stove and cabinets. Additionally, there are terraces with outdoor seating and lounge areas.
“Having the opportunity to live with older people takes away some of the stigma around elderly adults,” Danie Bryce, senior director of personal care services for Vincentian, said in a statement.
The decision to establish the program in 2019 was mutual when the university and Vincentian realized there was a common interest. The pandemic affected the amount of interaction— they had to get creative. One thing they did was make videos of poetry readings to share with residents.
“Having them here makes a huge difference for the residents,” Rabbi Burt Schuman, 75, said of the students. “I think it’s terrific.”
So does Barber, who is from Baltimore. She said she heard about the program through a university virtual call about housing and thought it was a great idea.
She and her fellow students share information with the residents about how to use computers and iPads. Some serve meals. Others participate in activities. Some do individual visits— each student finds what works for them.
Seniors teach the students life lessons and games such as poker and SKIP-BO, a sequencing card game, Barber said. Being around them is like having her grandparents close by.
The number of Americans living in a household with multiple generations has been growing for four decades, according to Patty David, vice president of consumer insights for AARP.
“It is a way for generations to combine resources to improve well-being,” she said.
Benefits include sharing the cost of housing and providing a convenient arrangement for child care and adult care. This is very important, David said, because you can see it in the success of companies with multigenerational workforces, as well as with intergenerational friendships.
“Intergenerational friendships are long-lasting and are unique and as easy as other friendships,” David said. “The benefits are many and profound, from sharing perspectives, insights and opinions, inspiring each other, valuing each other, and providing role models.”
A win-win
Patty Embree, chief operating officer and vice president, innovation for Vincentian, said it’s a “win-win” for both sides. There is a need for student housing, and there is a need for resident socialization, she said.
“These interactions make them all happy,” Embree said. “It’s a perfect marriage in many ways.”
There is evidence of strong public interest and support for these programs said Matt Kaplan, professor of intergenerational programs and aging in the department of agricultural economics, sociology and education at Penn State.
Kaplan highlighted a survey by the national Generations United/Eisner Foundation that found two in three people would like to spend time with individuals outside their age group, and three out of four people wish there were more opportunities in their community for people of different ages to get to know one another.
“Just because someone might move into a senior housing, assisted living or long-term care facility doesn’t mean they want to cut off contact with younger generations,” Kaplan said. “In fact, there is booming literature attesting to how carefully planned intergenerational programs can contribute to mental and physical health in exhilarating and life-affirming ways.”
Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, wrote an article citing research that demonstrates connections between the young and old can combat the negative health effects of isolation. Generations United found that multigenerational and age-friendly communities create a vehicle to bring generations together.
Kaplan said what Vincentian is doing its part of the wave of this type of movement.
“The goal is to provide these opportunities if both parties want them and to normalize life in this living community,” he said.
One of the positives is that living with older adults may affect a person’s attitude toward aging, Kaplan said. And they may find that seniors have a lot to contribute, because they do.
“People of varying ages have more in common than they may think,” Kaplan said. “It’s about connecting people and sharing their gifts and assets.”
Sometimes just sitting and talking to one of the seniors can make a difference, said Kasey Stepansky, former assistant professor of occupational therapy at Chatham University.
“I love the vision of this program,” said Stepansky.
She and colleague Michelle Criss, associate professor of physical therapy for Chatham, found the students love the breaks from studies when they get to spend time with the residents.
“I am excited to see the program expand,” Stepansky said. “There is a level of joy we are seeing.”
‘Treat the seniors the way you would want to be treated’
Interviews, clearances and background checks are typically done as a way to help assure safety for the seniors.
Students need to have training that includes instruction on assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters; interacting with residents who have dementia and Alzheimer’s; and how to handle loss. The students and residents form relationships, so there is a void if someone dies. It’s a part of life, Mulvaney said, and one that needs to be handled with care. She said many younger people have not been taught or had experience with death and loss of this type.
Barber said to treat the seniors the way you would want to be treated.
When Bolden’s daughter, Lori Sandidge of Green Tree, heard about the program, she was all for it. She and her sister visit all the time. The students can help complement the work the staff does.
“My mom having someone to talk to, someone to listen to her, means so much,” Sandidge said. “I think it’s wonderful.”
So does Bolden. “It’s great,” she said. “We are here for them and they are here for us. We all have stories to share.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne at jharrop@tribweb. com or via Twitter @joannescoop.
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