Zach Fleck and a Gateway Lodge resident

By Mandy Vocke

Young at heart

Pilot project brings new faces into Gateway Lodge

May 3, 2019 | 3:32 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— A couple of new faces called the Gateway Lodge home, as part of an innovative pilot study. Both the new residents and current residents had positive experiences, thanks to the unique partnership between UNBC and Northern Health.

Third year UNBC International Studies Student Zach Fleck has been living in the residential care facility for the past four months as part of the InterAGE project. The InterAGE project observes the benefits of younger and older people living together and building relationships. Fleck organized activities, and even just hung out with residents on a regular basis.

“The residents have absolutely loved to tell their life stories and relate their experiences to me, and I also enjoyed the opportunity to share my stories with them,” Fleck says. “I think young people make unique conversation catalysts in this way. There is something exciting about relating stories across intergenerational divides for all involved. I think the more opportunity we give young people to have these experiences, the more they would see the value in intergenerational interactions.”

Both Fleck and the residents say they learned a lot from each other. One of the primary lessons people part of InterAGE learned, was assisted living, or old age isn’t something that should be dreaded, but instead is still a fun part of life.

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“Often we look at assisted living, long-term care as a final step in the journey,” Manager of the Gateway Lodge Sandra Barnes says. “We wanted to come together and create spaces and innovation for people to know that they can continue to live, continue to grow, continue to learn and just be inspired to be here.”

The InterAGE research project is one of the first of its kind in B.C. and Canada. Residents of the Gateway Lodge say its a project that should expand into other residential care facilities in the future.