Generations Connected: The Integration of Senior and Student Living

Abstract

Throughout my time in school, I have had a growing interest in design for the aging as well as student populations. It seems to me there would be quite a few parallels in the needs of both generations. There are multiple existing studies into the effects of integrating the elderly with early childhood age children, most indicate an improvement in overall well-being and health for both the children and the elderly. Can the same ideas be applied to college age adults and adults 55 years and older? There are a few precedents for retirement communities with ties to higher education, such as Kendal at Oberlin, University Place at Purdue, Lasell Village at Lasell College, and Capstone Village at the University of Alabama. However, none of the examples go as far as to fully integrate the seniors with the students, allowing them to live in the same building. Integrated living and learning allows seniors to fully become integral members of campus culture at Texas A&M University.