Carpinteria Youth and GranVida Residents Connect Through Grandparent Buddy Program

GranVida Senior Living and Memory Care is excited to highlight their Grandparent Buddy Program in conjunction with Rincon High School. End Quote

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA (1888PressRelease) August 21, 2018 - GranVida Senior Living and Memory Care is bridging the gap between the young and older generations through a program that is sharing wisdom from the past for younger generations to learn from. The Grandparent Buddy Program is inspired by the Elder Buddy Project at Pacific High School in Ventura and encourages students to share stories and learn from seniors to implement it in their studies.

"The essence of the project is to get senior citizens living in independent and assisted living homes to have conversations, share stories and maybe even create some kind of relationship with teenagers," said Audria Culaciati, coordinator for the Grandparent Buddy Program. "Academically, the students utilize senior citizens as primary sources in researching academic topics in subject matters like history, economics and English. The students then go back to school and use the content in their classrooms, for example, either in biographies or as inspiration for research."

Yesica Torres is a senior at Rincon High School who has been involved with the Grandparent Buddy Program and recalls experiencing memories with residents at GranVida. "Reading about World War II and how Carpinteria schools weren't segregated isn't the same as hearing someone's life story in person," said Torres. "I loved being involved with the project and will be involved in the next school year."

The program has had a positive impact on both the students and the residents at GranVida. "The kids in the program that come to visit some of our residents connect with them in a very special way," said Felipe Garcia, Activities Coordinator for GranVida."It also benefits our residents in many different ways by interacting with these kids and getting the feeling of being positive role models for them."

Torres says she would recommend this program for other students as the program has many benefits. "I would definitely recommend it to other students because learning how life was years ago from someone who went through it personally is amazing," said Torres. "You get to see and feel their emotions as they tell you their life stories."

GranVida Executive Director Catherine Lee says she appreciates Culaciati for pursuing GranVida to implement the program that not only benefits the students, but residents as well. "We appreciate this teacher for having the creativity and the courage to try something new," said Lee. "The kids and residents equally enjoy this program. The young adults who participate are creating memories they will cherish for a long time."

For more information about GranVida, visit their website: http://granvidaseniorliving.com/

ABOUT GRANVIDA
GranVida Senior Living and Memory Care Community is the first senior living community in Carpinteria managed jointly by Seniority, Inc., an innovative leader in providing senior housing marketing and sales services, and Steadfast Management, a real estate development, investment and management company. GranVida sponsored the 2016 Alzheimer's Association Walk, while Steadfast has offered continuing supported the Carpinteria Alzheimer's Support Group.

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