Intergenerational Living Expands Family

“I’ve developed bonds and I just love everyone around here,” college senior Ricardo SerranoPerez talks about the friends he’s made while living at Terrace Place, independent living apartments for older adults.

Ricardo is one of three college seniors from LaRoche College who took part in an innovative program, offering free housing for students. In exchange for free rent in one of the apartments, the students agree to spend at least six hours a week engaging with other residents.

It’s unusual to see such young faces living among a mostly older crowd, but the intergenerational environment has been enriching to all involved. Everywhere you looked in the beginning of this year in this new space, you could see people laughing, talking, even coming together for different activities like watching a hometown team play. Now since COVID-19, you’re seeing the same type of care and concern for one another but one mindful of safety measures in place. Many of the younger residents have been key here during this time, running errands and grocery shopping.

Terrace Place is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is part of Vincentian Collaborative System made up of more than 2,000 seniors in facilities across Pittsburgh, which include independent living, personal care, memory care, short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing.

Terrace Place features luxury apartments that offer patios or balconies. Each living space has an open floor plan with smart technology and many innovative amenities. This intergenerational living arrangement is a first in the Pittsburgh area. But it’s proving to benefit both the college students and the older adult residents there.

Apartments are spacious and feature open floor plans at SCN ministry Terrace Place in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

College student Ricardo Serrano-Perez poses with fellow residents of Terrace Place. The three have become close friends.

Prior to COVID-19, time was spent cooking together, exercising or other activities, like playing games or watching a favorite Netflix series. There continues to be a lot of activity at Terrace Place, all mindful of social distancing.

The staff at Terrace Place say it’s been gratifying to see the seniors and the students together, and how lives have become intertwined. For the seniors, a big benefit of having much younger neighbors is being able to take advantage of their assistance with technology (smartphones, tablets, and computers). The older neighbors can share their life experiences, career tips, and wisdom.

Says college senior Ricardo, “Just sitting down and talking to someone that’s older than you 15, 20 minutes, you might learn a lot, you don’t even know, the stories and experiences. That’s how the things we know now get carried down. It’s just people talking about it.”

Ricardo adds he will miss living here after graduation, “But you know, it has been a great experience and I’m probably not going to stop talking about it for the rest of my life.”