Kendal at Oberlin Blog

My mother rarely turned down a dinner invitation or get-together with friends. In later years when she lamented that her “social calendar” was skimpy, she tried to find creative ways to fill it.

But like many older adults, my mother also cherished solitude, often with a good book, devotional or Lexi, her toy fox terrier, in her lap.

Northern Ohio residents can get away for a day and feel like they’ve been gone a week. We have a Great Lake in our backyard or we can step back in time, explore a big city and escape into nature.

During her first week on campus, Sarah Dalgleish visited Kendal at Oberlin for Oberlin College’s annual day of service.

“A cool place with amazing people,” she thought.

Sarah’s interest in Kendal continued to grow, and as she looked for a topic for her Winter Term 2018 project, she decided to combine her interest in radio journalism with older adults.

One of the cornerstones of Kendal at Oberlin is a rich intergenerational atmosphere that provides residents with lots of opportunities to engage with younger generations.

Ask a roomful of people to describe today’s young adults and you’re apt to hear words like impatient, entitled, self-centered and fun-focused.

In 2004, the year after Robert Taylor and Ted Nowick moved to Kendal, an Oberlin College professor offered a fall course on death and dying that involved matching first-year students with Kendal community residents. The couple signed up and liked it so much they continue to participate when their schedules permit.

Jewelry box. Photo albums. Recipe box. Bookcase. Artwork.   

These are some of the visual things that tell the story of who we are.

When we are gone, these things will live on, but will our stories?

I recently had a senior moment, but not your typical one of forgetfulness. This was more like a senior memory moment.

At a recent gathering in Heiser Auditorium, a couple hundred Kendal residents and staff gave Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov a warm welcome and a heartfelt send-off.

As we grow older and the demands of home and work ease, many of us begin to view traveling as an opportunity for enrichment rather than relaxation.

Afternoons poolside with a good book and cold drink no longer sound appealing. Instead, we want to broaden our horizons as we board an airplane to travel across the ocean or climb into an RV and head west.