What started as a virtual weekly connection through the intergenerational Tellegacy program blossomed into a true friendship for legacy builder Megha Girn and her resident, along with his family.
Megha had a unique Tellegacy experience, meeting with both her resident, Dick, and his wife, Sue. This allowed her to gain deeper insight to Dick’s story while adding another level of legacy sharing to their conversations.
“I enjoyed learning from Dick and Sue. They both have truly inspired and motivated me. I realized how I want to reflect on my life as I age and what I would want from the people around me. Dick and Sue both have a positive outlook on life, love and support each other unconditionally, and are always seeking to learn.”
With pandemic restrictions lifted in many states, Megha and her sister, Maya, had the opportunity to meet Dick’s family in person.
“I met my resident's wife, Sue, along with her sister and brother-in-law, and Sue's daughter Lynda. We went to The Heights in downtown Toledo and got to know each other better. We talked about my resident, their life and background, and they learned more about me,” shared Megha. “Sue gifted Maya and I prayer shawls that she crocheted and we gifted her and Dick The University of Toledo shirts and baked them a dessert we discussed in our sessions. It was a really great experience, and I enjoyed their company. It was a small world that her daughter lives right in Maumee, so it was perfect that she was coming to visit, and we were able to meet each other. I look forward to keeping in touch and continuing to learn from Dick and Sue.”
Their visit is a prime example of the lasting, intergenerational relationships that are forged through Tellegacy. As the program approaches it’s one year anniversary, this full-circle moment shines a light on the true purpose of the program - connecting university students with older adults to engage in meaningful conversations that create life-changing relationships.
“With the program being virtually based, it allows people to connect from anywhere. The conversations are real, the relationships formed are impactful, and to hear Megha’s story about meeting her resident’s family in person shows the true, lasting bond that this program initiates...it’s surpassed anything I could’ve imagined. It’s why we do what we do”, said Dr. Jeremy Holloway, founder of Tellegacy.
The Tellegacy program began recruiting students in July of 2020 and launched its services to residents in October of 2020. Since then the program has increased the number of residents served sixfold, added 6.5x more students to its volunteer base, and the program has been utilized at 9x more facilities nationwide.
If you are interested in learning more about Tellegacy and what it can do for your community, please contact Dr. Jeremy Holloway at 419-270-7511 today.
About Tellegacy
Tellegacy is an intergenerational program created to combat loneliness and social isolation among older adults, keeping them connected and engaged through weekly phone or virtual visits with university students. As research shows, loneliness and social isolation can result in long-term negative health outcomes. Tellegacy founder Jeremy Holloway, PhD is determined to change that narrative with his flexible, relationship-oriented, mindfulness, goal-setting and guided imagery curriculum. In partnership with Hayley Studer, CPA, FHFMA, and founder of achi, a holistic care management company that lowers overall expenses by actively engaging people and connecting them to organizations to address the social determinants of health, the infrastructure for Tellegacy was built. To learn more about the Tellegacy program and how it can save lives, visit www.achi.solutions/tellegacy.
About achi
achi is a holistic care management company that lowers overall expenses by actively engaging people and connecting them to organizations to address the social determinants of health. Through innovative partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and creative solutions, we equip organizations across multiple industries to educate the people they serve and connect them with resources to improve their lives from the ground up. By partnering with health systems, educational institutions and corporations, achi empowers lasting transformation in individual lives— resulting in an overall healthier population and data to transform our healthcare payment models. To learn more about achi and its mission, visit www.achi.solutions.