When Winona State University scholarly person Ashley McGaw skateboard home after a tenacious day of breast feeding classes , she ’s greeted by an strange entourage : the elderly residents of a Minnesota attend to living facility call Senior Living at Watkins .
According toWFAA , McGaw and several other college kids live there with 45 seniors as part of Winona Health ’s “ Students in Residence " program , in which students volunteer their time with residents in exchange for discounted snag . For 10 volunteer time of day per month , it ’s $ 400 , and doubling your hours drops it to just $ 200 per month . Not only does that include meal , it also gives students the chance to forgo the usual college dorm building for the stately glamor of an old mansion — their elbow room are located in the historic Watkins Manor House , which is attached to the aided living facility .
For starter Joel Olson , the opportunity seemed like a no - brainer .
“ ' All you have to do is spend some prison term with some really nice people ? ' ” he remember call up , according toKARE 11 . “ Of course ! ”
As for how they spend that time , it ’s up to the student . grad student Laura Jensen host weekly crocheting session , breast feeding student Hanna Rottier offers manicures , and bulletin boards promote free tech livelihood .
And , in return for sharing their time and natural endowment , students get to have the familial heart and grandparental care that ’s often scarce on a college campus .
“ They all female parent me , ” Jensen tells KARE 11 about the member of her crochet nightclub . “ They take upkeep of me . ”
Winona Health attend to sustenance director Cheryl Krage learn evidence of this , too .
“ I get word residents marvel how the scholarly person are doing with their study , ” Winona Health assisted life conductor Cheryl Krage severalize KARE 11 . “ ‘ Are you eating enough , are you become enough fruits and vegetable[s ] ? "
consort to the programpageon Winona Health ’s website , the program is particularly beneficial to students looking to participate the health care industry , whether that ’s medical shoal , nursing , societal work , reconstructive therapy , or even euphony therapy .
It also keeps senior citizen tie to the next generation in a deeper way .
“ avail us stay young – ger , ” senior resident Diane Sheldon told KARE 11 .
[ h / tWFAA ]
