Vitalia Senior Residences at Stow to Celebrate Back-to-School Season

At Vitalia Senior Residences at Stow, we are always excited to celebrate the Back-to-School season! Partnering with local schools is typically a year-long effort, but there is a special focus on the time when most students are heading back to the classroom- whether in person or virtually. We have partnered with Fischcreek Elementary School. Our residents find it easy to relate to school outreach efforts as many of them can recall a time when they returned to school as well.

Fostering these relationships helps build a sense of community among students, teachers, residents, and staff. There are plenty of advantages to intergenerational activities- such as decreasing the social and economic isolation so many seniors feel. Research has shown that seniors’ health, memory, and balance can benefit from volunteering regularly with children. Not only do these relationships benefit the older generations, but also the younger ones as well. Studies have also shown that children who interact with elders are less likely than others to start illegal drug use, will more likely have improved communication with their parents, and are less likely to experience depression. Lastly, these experiences can create timeless memories for both the seniors and children involved, such as making a new friend, trying a new game or activity, or listening to stories of each other’s life.

We will be hosting a school supply drive for Fischcreek Elementary School starting at the beginning of August and running through the middle of the month. We will deliver the supplies with goodie bags. At Christmas time, we will visit a classroom and have a resident read a Christmas story and have hot cocoa and cookies for the class.

I think each year the school list gets longer, and some families just don’t have the funds for all the items. It makes me feel good, as well as our residents, that we contributed to the wish list. I will share the school’s wish list in the resident’s weekly calendar, as well as announce it at Town Hall.

Going to a sporting event and making banners is a big thing for our residents, as well as for the students they are cheering on. As a parent with children in sports, nothing is worse than going to a game and seeing no support from others cheering them on.

Vitalia Senior Residences at Stow will continue to show their support in a lot of different ways this Back-to-School season and throughout the school year.