- Clinical Health Studies
- Class of 2015
- Washingtonville, NY
Washingtonville Native Mary Claire Hartford Enriches Lives of Elders Through Intergenerational Relationships
2013 Nov 15
Washingtonville High School graduate Mary Claire Hartford is building intergenerational relationships through Project Generations, a friendly visiting service organized by Ithaca College and the Tompkins County Office for the Aging.
The Office for the Aging helps seniors independently maintain their quality of life as long as possible. Project Generations supports this mission by offering companionship, mental stimulation and social support for the elderly. The group aims to reduce social stigma about seniors and recognize their value as community members with rich life experiences worth sharing.
A junior majoring in clinical health studies, Hartford became a member of Project Generations during her freshman year at Ithaca College and now serves as co-president. She says she joined the organization hoping to expand the relationship she has with her grandmother to someone else in the local community and to see firsthand the direct impact the relationship can have on an elder's mood, day and even life.
"The connections we make with the senior community benefit something bigger than ourselves -- and you can absolutely see it in the faces of those we volunteer with," Hartford said. "Providing our time to visit with, talk to and assist others is the least we can do to give back to those members of this community."
As co-president, Hartford prepares for and facilitates meetings while also promoting the club to the student body and local community. She works with the Office for the Aging to recruit senior citizens to pair with student volunteers and provides support coordinating events and fundraising activities.
"I am so excited to see Project Generations grow as an organization, and I attribute our progress and growth to the hard work, dedication and passion of the executive board and members -- enthusiasm is contagious," Hartford said. "We constantly survey our members and elders, asking what we do well, what we can change and what we can do better in order to improve our program and the overall volunteer experience."
Student volunteers and elders are paired based on personality, hobbies and skills such as crocheting, knitting, baking or playing card games. The partners meet weekly throughout the year and participate in activities based on interests, where the older adult lives and their cognitive and physical abilities. Some pairs prefer to simply chat with one another, while other pairs work on projects or take walks together.
For more information on Project Generations visit projectgenerations.org or email icprojectgenerations@gmail.com.
From day one, Ithaca College prepares students for success through hands-on experience with internships, research and study abroad. Its integrative curriculum builds bridges across disciplines and uniquely blends liberal arts and professional study. Located in New York's Finger Lakes region, the College is home to 6,100 undergraduate and 400 graduate students.