One music student finds the beauty of intergenerational friendship through a unique living arrangement with seniors in a unique approach to bridging the generational divide.
For most college students, living arrangements involve raucous residence halls, shared apartments, or bustling campus housing. However, Beth Christensen’s nest was a bit different.
She was chosen to live among seniors in a senior living home a stone’s throw from her campus. Surrounded by friends of generations past and the wisdom of age, her unusual setup has been enriching for both her and the residents.
Intergenerational friendship through music and daily life
Christensen is a university concert pianist studying at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). In July 2023, she became part of an “intergenerational programming” partnership established by her campus and Claridge Court, a senior living home in Prairie Village, Kansas. As a musician-in-residence, the other residents benefit from hearing Christensen rehearse and perform live, where she mostly plays classical music and jazz and sometimes sings.
However, Christensen describes her one-year stay at the residence as more than a mutual exchange; she made true friends.
“I’ve made so many friends here,” Christensen said in an interview with Rethinking65. “What surprised me the most is that I have something in common with everybody. I have different things in common with different people. I haven’t met anyone with whom I don’t share anything. We’re all human. We’re all the same that way.”
A community that loves the arts
Claridge comprises 125 independent living units and 45-bed skilled nursing units. Rob Salierno, the executive director of Claridge, said the staff and residents are thrilled with this unorthodox arrangement. He said he was compelled to try it after hearing of such a lifespace community in Iowa.
“Music is a big part of their lives and the community’s life,” Salierno told Rethinking65. “So when an apartment became available, it opened up an opportunity to bring a young person into the community who could not only entertain residents but also befriend them.”
“The experience has shown that age is just a number. You can find special relationships regardless of age,” he added.
Salierno and Christensen were introduced to each other by Mary Kay and Charlie Horner, residents at Claridge with ties to UMKC Conservatory. After the first interview with her, he says he knew her high-spirited and pleasant personality made her the perfect candidate for this collaboration.
“We are thrilled to have Beth become a part of our community,” said Mary Kay Horner, who, with her husband, Charlie, found Christensen for the new position. “Seeing this partnership come to life and witnessing the connections she’s already forged with the residents is incredibly gratifying. Her talents and companionship bring a unique vibrancy to our community, fostering a sense of togetherness and shared growth.”
A fulfilling cross-generational relationship
Besides music, Christensen happily engages in the facility’s activities. She’s come to love badminton, yoga, “chair volleyball,” puzzles, and meal times when they share stories with her new friends. She also says now that she’s become comfortable among her new friends, she’s tried to spice up her music with more modern music.
“In the beginning, I wouldn’t do anything too out of the ordinary — I would bring a vocalist sometimes, or I would play classical music,” she said. “As I got more comfortable, I would try new things and play more recent music. Sometimes, people wouldn’t like it, and they let me know. Others love to see where the future of music is going. It’s fun to ask what kind of music people want to hear and work it into my repertoire.”
Groundwork for more future collaborations
Christensen’s one-year stay at Claridge ended after one academic year, but she says it was a delightful experience and that she learned a lot.”The people here may be 50 or 60 years older than me, but that’s not essential to who they are as people. I’ve come to appreciate that even more with the relationships I’ve created here.”
Salierno and the residents at Claridge hope to continue this model of inviting a young artist or musician open to intergenerational friendship to live at Claridge every year. Andrew Grenade, Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs and Professor of Musicology at UMKC, also feels this would be a great collaboration from now on.
“The conservatory is deeply embedded in the Kansas City community, so finding ways to connect with local partners, giving back to the community, and having our students learn from the community is significant to us. We think our students study in Kansas City, not just on campus. This idea seemed a natural fit.”
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