It’s graduation season, and schools and universities nationwide are honoring their graduates. But for many people, the passion for learning continues well beyond young adulthood.
One inspiring example comes from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York: 93-year-old retired optometrist Lewis Taub has just audited his 50th class at the college. Taub has been auditing one course every spring and fall semester for 25 years—since 1994—accumulating the equivalent of roughly 150 college credits. When asked why he keeps returning, Taub replied simply, “I’m dealing with young people, and it makes me feel young.”
Lifelong learning programs are particularly appealing to older adults for many reasons. Continued study keeps the mind engaged, sparks curiosity and creativity, and creates opportunities for meaningful intergenerational friendships. Many retirement communities recognize these benefits and offer classes, lectures, and cultural programs on site to support residents’ intellectual lives.
Arizona State University (ASU) has taken this concept a step further by integrating senior living, intergenerational programming, and academic life in a single project.
Senior living meets love of learning
Last year ASU broke ground on Mirabella at ASU, a 20-story continuing care retirement community (CCRC) on its Tempe campus. The life plan community will offer 252 upscale independent-living apartments—many with expansive mountain views—and amenities such as an indoor pool, theater, art gallery, spa, dog park, and four restaurants. All of this will be within walking distance of the university campus and downtown Tempe’s restaurants, cultural venues, and recreational options.
Mirabella at ASU will also include 52 healthcare units, providing assisted living apartments, skilled nursing suites, and a secured memory care neighborhood as part of its continuum of care. The community was scheduled for completion in 2020.
Designed to connect residents with campus life, Mirabella will let seniors audit university courses, use the campus library, and attend ASU cultural and sporting events. This close proximity and institutional partnership offer a seamless way for older adults to remain intellectually active while enjoying the conveniences and medical supports of a CCRC.
Mutual benefits of intergenerational programs
Intergenerational interaction benefits both seniors and younger students. At Mirabella, seniors and ASU students can form meaningful friendships and mentorships that enrich both groups. The senior living community also creates new academic and research opportunities for the university. Faculty and students can expand coursework and investigations in fields such as art therapy for older adults, dementia care and Alzheimer’s research, and nursing practice—bringing practical, real-world settings into the classroom and research labs.
Campus life…only better
As Baby Boomers seek active, engaged living options, innovative CCRCs like Mirabella at ASU are growing in number and popularity. These communities combine the cultural, educational, and social advantages of campus life with the safety, amenities, and on-site health services of a life plan community.
At the groundbreaking, ASU President Michael Crow described Mirabella as “the world’s coolest dorm,” emphasizing the idea that people of any age can and should remain active learners. His point highlights a broader truth: with the right environment and opportunities, lifelong learning can be a natural, rewarding part of life’s later chapters.