Lafayette Journal & Courier

Purdue graduate student's circle of friends spans ages

By PHIL WRIGHTHOUSE

November 25, 2007

On Purdue's campus, most students have a close group of friends they live with and see on a regular basis.

For graduate student Karis Pallone, that circle of friends is very large. And composed of mostly grandparents.

Pallone is part of the Bridge Program, a joint effort with Westminster Village, a West Lafayette retirement community, and Purdue's Center on Aging. As part of the program, Pallone lives in Westminster Village and takes part in programs and meetings.

As she walks into the dining hall for dinner each night, she notices where their concerns are placed.

"Their eyes go directly to my shoes," said Pallone, who is studying sociology and gerontology. She said they worry about the high heels and straps that most of the residents aren't used to. "But they worry, which means they care."

When Pallone moved in to Westminster in July 2005, she said the trepidation that most people might feel didn't really exist.

"I lived at home for the majority of my life," said Pallone. "I was ready for an adventure."

The residents of Westminster don't seem to notice the age gap between themselves and Pallone.

"She's fit in very nicely," said Eleanor McKay. McKay and her husband, Thom, have lived in Westminster for more than eight years. They eat dinner with Pallone at least once a week.

"It's nice to have young people, especially someone interested in gerontology," Eleanor McKay said.

"The only way to take care of the elderly is to start young," said Thom McKay.

Pallone uses her experiences not as much in her research as in the classes she teaches. Recently, Pallone brought some of her students to Westminster to have a game night with some of the residents.

"It was such a big hit," said Eleanor McKay. "The kids had such a good time."

On game night, Pallone was impressed with how her students, mostly freshmen, reacted.

"They were so awesome," she said. "It was a sign that they really can connect with older adults."

The program has also affected her personally, as well as academically.

"My family likes this arrangement because they know I'm in a nice, sheltered environment and that I have a family away from home," said Pallone. "I always say it's like I have 200 grandparents."

In fact, the McKays say they've watched Pallone grow up in front of their eyes.

"We've seen her grow. We've met her boyfriend, who's now her fiancé," said Eleanor McKay. "She tried to deny it all at first, but we all knew they would end up together. We knew differently."

The Bridge Program is also shaping what Pallone will do after college. She is looking at careers in senior care and senior advocacy, things she has been exposed to through her experiences at Westminster.

"This serves as a constant inspiration as to what I'm doing and why," said Pallone. "It's a reminder to stay in touch with your subject population."