Going For the Gold

Golden Years, unique for being the only program in YES House that works with the elderly, aims to “bridge the gap between the elderly and the youth”, says current director Marlene Medina. Marlene and her co-director Erik Wright hope Golden Years can serve to break stigmas and stereotypes about the elderly, and reconnect college-aged students with elders in a valuable and meaningful way.

Golden years currently provides in-home service to one elderly participant, and the rest of their service is dedicated to spending time with residents at Silvercrest in Eureka. During their in-home services volunteers will do anything from laundry and dishes to simply spending quality time with the participant. Marlene says simply spending time with the elders and hearing their stories oftentimes becomes the most valued moments to volunteers in this program. At their other service site, Silvercrest, the volunteers play Bingo and spend quality time with the residents. Every Saturday between 12-2:30pm, one will often find volunteers enthusiastically shouting “Bingo!” as they win fun prizes and laugh with the residents there. 

Golden Years photo

Of the nineteen volunteers in Golden Years, Marlene says they often find themselves with students of diverse experiences and backgrounds. One volunteer from Fall 2015 came into the program simply for service learning credit, “She didn’t think that it was totally going to change her outlook”, notes Marlene. The volunteer came into the program as a Child Development major and was admitted into the program late in the semester as well. Timid of interacting with this population and limited by potential stereotypes at first, over time she discovered that the service with these elders was exciting and rewarding. Marlene says this volunteer has bonded really well with the community and is coming back as a returner for Spring 2016.

Golden Years photo