Intergenerational Living Mixes the Talents and Wisdom of Two Generations

August 30, 2024

BY Gene Mitchell

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This member has reimagined independent living with an ethic of "intentional neighboring" to fight isolation and loneliness among its residents: older adults and college students.

Loneliness-a growing concern for America, according to recent government reports and national media investigations-is not limited by age, a truth that inspired Lincoln, NE, LeadingAge member Tabitha to create a new intergenerational living community designed to build human connections between residents young and old.

S²age Living, an independent living building on the Tabitha campus, is now home to adults aged 55-plus as well as students from the nearby Bryan College of Health Sciences. The 150,000-square-foot building contains 118 apartments-a blend of one- and two-bedrooms, plus studios-and generous common areas designed to make socializing easy for residents of several generations.

A central goal of S²age from the beginning was fighting loneliness. In a 2022 article, former Tabitha President and CEO Christie Hinrichs said, "Loneliness is deadly, and as we researched its impact, we were surprised to learn that college-age students report an even higher degree of loneliness than seniors. That is why [S²age] matters so much-joy and gratitude will be felt across generations as wisdom, talents, and stories are transferred from one generation to the other."

The building now has 41 older adult residents and 14 students, and current Tabitha President and CEO Brian Shanks projects that its target population of 100 seniors and 18 students will be reached by June 2025, more than a year ahead of schedule. Bryan College of Health Sciences, just a mile down the street, sees the development as an ideal housing option for students, and contributes a $250 monthly stipend to its students who live there.

S²age (pronounced "sage") is not subsidized housing, but half of the older adult apartments are priced moderately in comparison to similar apartments in the area. Shanks adds that there is a small number of residents who get extra help from Tabitha. The building is staffed by four employees: a community administrator, an activities coordinator, a housekeeper for the common areas, and a maintenance person.

For Connection, Against Loneliness

S²age Living was inspired by an observation from Chris Brester, a Tabitha donor and owner of a construction company. An apartment building Brester built in Omaha had naturally become home to both older adults and college students. "He noticed something different about this community: The older generation loved living [there] because it had younger students, and they didn't get that much anywhere else," says Shanks.

In 2018, Brester shared the idea with Hinrichs, and the research and planning behind S²age began. A major capital campaign launched in 2021 raised $9.5 million, enabling construction to begin a year later. The building was completed in December 2023, when the first residents began moving in.

The building's design features, especially its large community kitchen with ample seating that has become a popular gathering place for morning coffee, encourage socializing. They include: an "Innovation Studio" equipped with computers, tablets, smartboards, TVs, and classroom-style tables; outdoor areas including pathways, green spaces, and patios; an open-air rooftop terrace with a sound system, TV, fire pit, and heaters; a yoga studio; a gym with wellness technology and equipment; a salon; and more.

Design isn't enough, however. Tabitha actively encourages socialization with weekly programming, and even requires student residents to attend one community activity per month. Seniors don't have a requirement, but are encouraged to do the same, and their participation is high.

Tabitha has worked with Klaatch, a company that helps create programs for senior housing operators and service providers to increase social connection and reduce loneliness. "They helped us develop a very intentional program," Shanks says. He notes that every senior and student goes through an interview process based on Tabitha's core values before moving in, and it's made clear that the community is based on "intentional neighboring."

Events include arts and crafts classes, field trips, guest speakers on current events and other topics followed by discussion groups, and even presentations by the health sciences students on health topics for the older adults.

Food is always a draw. "That's one thing I've learned," Shanks says, laughing. "You almost always have to have food." Students and older adults enjoy cookouts on the rooftop terrace, movie nights, and of course-this being Lincoln-watching Nebraska Cornhuskers sports.

Though no plans to replicate the model exist, Shanks said if the funding can be found, more intergenerational communities could be considered. He says he's heard from a couple of Nebraska colleges expressing interest in similar communities on their campuses, an example of the growing interest in university-based retirement communities. (See this recent LeadingAge article on a Maryland member's UBRC project.)

Tabitha sees the community as a natural extension of its mission. "Our purpose statement says we empower people to live joyfully and age gratefully," says Shanks, "and we feel this helps seniors have a more purposeful and joyful life with others, not alone without some form of socialization."

Photo: Large, inviting common areas like the community kitchen make social mingling and event scheduling easy for S²age Living residents. Photo courtesy of Tabitha.

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