College Students Sharing Dorm Space With Senior Citizens

Pixabay/Pexels

Pixabay/Pexels

Picture this: Six college kids move into an assisted living facility for senior citizens. It sounds like a recipe for disaster. Or a sketch on Saturday Night Live. But this is actually happening at Winona State University in Minnesota.

Senior Living at Watkins, a residence operated by Winona Health, offers assisted living in modern housing attached to a century-old mansion. The facility's director, Cheryl Krage, came up with the idea of placing students in eight empty rooms above the common areas of the Watkins mansion. So far, the experience has been positive for all involved.

The forty-five senior residents enjoy having their new younger neighbors around. The college students feel like they're at home. It's also a pretty good deal for the kids. In exchange for working just ten volunteer hours a month at the residence, they get a spacious room in the mansion for $400. Twenty volunteer hours reduces their rent to $200 per month.

My church places a big emphasis on inter-generational interaction within the congregation. It's an opportunity to bridge the age gaps, learn from one another, and form new friendships. These folks in Minnesota have clearly figured that out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLqTeHCJEcJ43oWTKkAAEs2eCCSpR_lTYq&time_continue=2&v=XyshVLyqvjc

assisted living college students Minnesota senior citizens Winona State University

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Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.