Thanksgiving is a time to gather and give thanks for the friends and family around you.  But we found some local students, who this year, are thankful for a family that are just starting to get to know!  A senior living facility in Minneapolis is now accepting housing applications from students in the metro area!  Augustana Apartments are bridging the generation gap with their new program.

Dr. Edward Ratner has been bringing his students to Augustana for years through a program called, “Seniors as Teachers”, where once a week students would meet with the elderly in their home.  But between the vacant rooms at the apartment and the students need for housing, Dr. Ratner decided to make this program long term and the seniors loved the idea! 

For the next year, University of Minnesota dn Luther Seminary students will live among the elderly to gain real life experiences that will one day help the seniors they will be serving.  The young people will eat meals, attend recreational activities, and socialize with these older residents.  While the medical students offer physical care, the seminary students will serve the spiritual side. 

The seniors at Augustana hope this program will dispel some of the myths that follow aging and they know the students will learn a thing or two from this older generation.   For more information on this program, click here.