By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
While the vast majority of its residents will remain ages 65 and up, executive staff at Fairhaven Senior Services recently announced an initiative aimed at bridging generational gaps.
A newly instituted intergenerational intensive study program will give college-aged students an opportunity to reside at the facility and interact with the older adults who have long populated Fairhaven.
Paul Kuenning, executive director at Fairhaven, said the proposal came to light, in part, because of where the facility is situated. Fairhaven has long partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on a number of programs since the two campuses are mere blocks from one another.
“We’ve had a very positive experience with the university,” Kuenning said. “We’ve had tremendous interns working here, and there are always students walking by.”
From a practical perspective, there have been several underutilized small apartments within Fairhaven. Housing college students within the facility had been broached as an idea to fill some of the empty space.
For the time being, the intergenerational intensive study program is only being offered on a trial basis, per the decision of Fairhaven’s board of directors.
“We’re being very cautious and conscious about it,” Kuenning said.
But Kuenning said he is optimistic about the long-term prognosis of the program. He said other intergenerational initiatives with UW-Whitewater have been successful, pointing out that Fairhaven’s residents have had an opportunity recently to interact regularly with youth.
Fairhaven participated in a project known as bridging the intergenerational gap (BIGG). It was a research project conducted by UW-Whitewater’s Children’s Center.
Fairhaven also has hosted a long-running lecture series Mondays that feature UW-Whitewater professors. Students in a perceptual motor development class have visited the facility as well to meet with residents.
“We thought we’d take this to the next level,” Kuenning said. “It’s an excellent opportunity for students to get involved and share their talents and gifts.”
Kuenning emphasized that Fairhaven is being highly selective in its search for student residents. Pre-requisites include top-level grades, furnishing references and a willingness to volunteer in the community. Applicants’ social skills, interests and overall motivation are other criteria that will be reviewed.
“We’re looking at it on a case-by-case basis,” Kuenning said. “We’ve been interviewing some students and fielding questions. What I’ve found interesting is the fact students’ parents have been engaged in the conversations as well. I like that because it tells me the parents are involved in their kids’ lives.”
Fairhaven has chosen its first student participant, who will take residence later this month. Yaya Bah, a native of the African country Gambia, is a transfer student from Madison Area Technical College.
“He’ll be sharing some of his country’s customs with our residents while he’s here,” Kuenning said. “I think it will be a real positive.”
As part of his involvement, Bah is scheduled to deliver a talk, open to the entire community, about his native environment.
If You Go …
WHO: college student and new Fairhaven resident Yaya Bah
WHAT: talk on his native country, Gambia
WHEN: 3 p.m. Monday, March 25
WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 W. Starin Road
