“There is such a home feeling here and a sense of community,” says Brendan, during a recent reception at Kendal to honor all 15 graduating high school seniors.
At the reception, dozens of residents gathered to wish the students well, met their families and took photographs.
“We always look forward to this reception, so we can tell their families how great they are. It’s really wonderful to watch the students develop,” resident Robert Taylor says.
For Ann Pilisy, Catering and Dining Manager (“and the students’ boss, den mother and cheerleader,” Robert adds) the reception serves another purpose. “I look to hire siblings,” she says.
Related: Appreciating Generational Differences>>
Ann gets “tons of applications” for the part-time positions in Kendal’s three dining rooms. Once hired, she stresses the importance of speaking up, making good eye contact, dressing appropriately and showing up on time.
“Don’t call residents ‘you guys,’” she reminds them, and no Mr., Mrs. and Ms. – everyone at Kendal goes by first name.
She likes to hire students who are involved in school and community activities (you should see some of the student resumes) and alters schedules to accommodate their activities.
During prom season, many of the students stop by Kendal in formal attire with their dates to greet residents and staff members. Once off to college they stay in touch, stopping by during school breaks to visit, and sometimes to work. Some students even go on to careers in the field of aging services.
Former server Dominique Hughes is now a gerontologist, works for the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, and serves on the Kendal Board of Directors. Jessica Moore is currently an administrator-in-training at Kendal. Both worked as servers here in their high school days. By the way, Jessica just graduated with her Bachelors degree and will be continuing on as a scholarship student at Youngstown State University, working towards her Masters degree in gerontology.
Thayer Preston is a familiar face at Kendal as he attended the Early Learning Center. His mother, Kim, works in social services. His father, Dale, is often on campus taking photographs and has done so since his sophomore year.
“Kendal has been a great experience for me. All the residents have been so welcoming, and I’ve loved hearing their advice on life and their stories. I feel a part of the big Kendal family,” the Oberlin senior says.
Here are comments from the other graduating servers:
Recognizing the benefits of intergenerational relationships, Kendal at Oberlin fosters them between residents and children, teens, and college students. Statistics and studies have shown how the benefits of intergenerational relationships span the many dimensions of human wellness, from social and emotional to intellectual and physical.
Learn more about our intergenerational programs here.
Young or Old, Big or Small, Intergenerational Relationships Are Good For All!
Find out how you can benefit today's youth and how they are helping others like you in our eBook.