Written by Michele Dinman, MPH, Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging, WashU
WashU’s Adopt-a-Grandparent (AAG) student club promotes positive connection between WashU undergraduate students and older adults living in the St. Louis community. The students make weekly visits to assisted living communities, and plan and implement group activities with the goal of facilitating one-on-one connections and building relationships with the residents. Activities include trivia tournaments, arts and crafts, service projects, performances, and games. The program also helps encourage dialogue about aging in the WashU community. Part one of this series provided insight from Abby Tang.
In this three part series, WashU undergraduates describe their involvement and experiences with Adopt-a-Grandparent. Next, Elise Murphy, WashU senior, shares her experiences:
Elise explains her experience with the AGG program after becoming a WashU student. “When I transferred to WashU for my sophomore year of college, I felt like I was in over my head. I had no friends, no understanding of WashU culture and most importantly, no idea which clubs to join. I spotted the Adopt-a-Grandparent booth at the activity fair, and decided to give it a shot. I had never really interacted with older adults outside of my family members, but I figured that a club which focused on interpersonal connections may help me ground myself in both the WashU and St. Louis communities.
As a senior reflecting on my college experience, I count the Fridays and Sundays I have spent with our residents as one of the most consistently positive and fulfilling parts of my week. I feel a special connection to the folks at Hylton Point, because I buy the prizes for their bingo games every other Friday. Since I’m buying the prizes, I have come to learn which items they enjoy winning the most: one gentleman always wants a water bottle with a lid, another gentleman always picks the air fresheners, and one of the ladies loves dish towels. In addition to learning their likes and dislikes, we have also been able to create a few running jokes about my enthusiasm over finding a good deal and my affinity for Target. In addition to buying the prizes, I also call out the numbers for bingo. When I call out the numbers, a second voice is never far behind because one of our most consistent attendees always calls out the number right after me. I always love his not so silent support, and the one visit he wasn’t able to attend felt way too quiet.
Overall, the most valuable things I have learned from the older adults of St. Louis is to take things slow, enjoy the period of life that you’re currently in, and to not only live with gratitude in your heart but express it to those close to you.”
For more information or to join WashU Adopt-a-Grandparent, email Abby Tang at a.f.tang@wustl.edu. Learn more about Abby’s experience with AAG in Part One.