Intergenerational programs in senior living: a student’s perspective.
There are benefits of intergenerational programs for seniors and students alike.
As its partnership with Goucher College deepens and Edenwald evolves into a college-enriched senior living community, the opportunities for intergenerational learning in Towson will continue to grow. One Goucher College student is already ahead of the curve.
Sam Koseff, a Goucher College senior graduating in spring 2025, has already been involved with Edenwald residents in several different programs. First, Sam was part of the pilot “Arts in The Community” class that paired Goucher College students with Edenwald residents approaching or having surpassed the age of 100. The students listened to the centenarians’ stories, then created artistic representations of them. “I got paired with two amazing women,” Sam says. “Being a visual artist, I made collages for them. It was super impactful for me. I had a really great time.”
During the same semester, Sam was chosen to be the student representative of the newly formed Coordinating Council, a group comprising both Goucher College and Edenwald representatives. The purpose of the council is to determine the most beneficial ways the two communities can interact. “I thought it was really important to get a student voice in there, because I was really excited about this partnership,” Sam says, “especially since some of the students were uncertain as to how the partnership would unfold and what it would mean to them.”
Today, Sam is working through the college’s Community-Based Learning Office to bring some of the Coordinating Council’s ideas to life. “We teamed up with a couple of other offices on campus to create what we called Generational Jam. It was a two-part night. The first part was BINGO, and the second part was a school dance at Edenwald,” Sam explains. “We did line dances from different generations. It was super fun. I’ve gotten close to some of the residents.”
After they graduate, Sam will accompany the group heading to Scotland for the first Goucher College study abroad program that will include Edenwald residents. They’ll serve as a liaison between the students and the residents. “I’m going to help each group be able to mix and talk with each other,” they say.
What students have learned from the senior living and Goucher College partnership.
When asked what they’ve learned from all these senior activities with college students in Towson, Sam gets especially excited. “I really like the intergenerational experience and hearing different viewpoints,” they say. “I’ve also learned there are understanding gaps in both directions. For example, one of my majors is gender studies, which wasn’t an academic field when most of the residents were in college.
“So, getting to talk to them about that as a program is super fun, but it’s also really exciting for me to hear about what they were doing in their own majors. I’ve had a lot of them get really excited at the idea of being able to sit in one of those [gender studies] classes, because it’s not a class they had the opportunity to take as a student.”
What Edenwald residents have learned.
When flipping the question to ask what they think Edenwald residents have gotten from interacting with Goucher College students to date, Sam speculates, “I think connection is one thing. A lot of them have family, but they’re not necessarily our age,” they say.
“I think the Edenwald residents also frequently have questions they don’t feel comfortable asking family members. I had a very long conversation with a man about why my generation isn’t having as many kids,” Sam says. “And I think if I was his grandkid, I probably would have been really annoyed by that conversation, but as someone outside the family, it was super fun.”
Sam also believes the Edenwald residents they have met enjoy being in learning environments and are happy to engage with students on topics they find interesting, or may have even taught in the past.
As an example, Sam cites some of the women at Edenwald who once taught home economics, a subject that includes some of the lost arts not commonly taught today. As a result, Sam says, “they feel a bit invalidated as an academic.
“But we have a lot of students who are really interested in fiber arts, so those residents are really excited to get to talk to them about that again. For them to be able to get back in an education space, I think, is the biggest win.”
What to know about Edenwald residents.
What would Sam like their fellow Goucher College students to know about Edenwald residents? “Come in with an open mind and give them a chance,” Sam says, “most of the people I’ve interacted with just want to learn.”
Sam continues, “If you enter in a learning mindset, they’re already there in a learning mindset, and it can be really, really fun. I’ve been able to watch a lot of my friends, especially at Generational Jam, get to know people and have a really fun time with them.” Sam adds, “If the only people that you’re talking to who are of that age are your grandparents, you’re not getting a lot of stories that are really important.”
What to know about Goucher College students.
“We [the students] want to learn as much as they [the residents] do,” Sam says. “There was sort of a mindset from some of the residents who were coming into the classes that they were going to be the only ones who cared, which was funny to me. I just never would have assumed that, because I think, as Goucher students, we’re pretty passionate about the subjects we study and we care a lot.”
Sam would also like Edenwald residents to know that when Goucher College students are taking part in intergenerational programming—generally speaking—it’s not because they have to be there, it’s because they want to be there. “I just want to make it clear that most of the time, we’re opting in,” Sam says, “and we’re excited.”
It’s certainly an exciting time at Edenwald, as we evolve into a college-enriched senior living community. We invite you to learn more about the upcoming intergenerational programs for senior living by attending an event in the near future or scheduling a visit. Call 410-339-6263.
