Dental, medical students make monthly visits to senior community
Dental students Diana Gomez and Alexandra Mark visit residents at Amberwoods in Farmington.
For second-year dental student Caitlin Fanella, connecting with the local senior community is personal.
"Having older adults who are important parts of my life has given me a deeper appreciation for how meaningful companionship, patience, and simply spending time together can be," said Fanella. "I think everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and connected."
Caitlin is the vice-president of Celebrating Seniors, a student-run organization that brings together medical and dental students at UConn Health to foster meaningful connections with senior citizens in the local community.
The students organize monthly visits to Amberwoods of Farmington Nursing and Rehabilitation, where they spend time with residents through activities such as board and lawn games, arts and crafts, holiday celebrations, and other activities that can be adapted to different abilities and mobility levels.
Abigail Holmes, a third-year dental student, serves as the president of Celebrating Seniors. Holmes credits the program for not only benefiting the residents, but for being a positive outlet for students in currently enrolled in UConn's rigorous dental and medical schools.
"Medical and dental school can be stressful, and Celebrating Seniors has become a great way for us to take a step back from our busy schedules and reconnect with what matters outside of school," Holmes says. "Hearing the residents' stories, learning from their life experiences, and receiving their advice is incredibly grounding, especially when so much of our focus is on academics. I think the club has a positive impact on both the residents and the students, and I'm grateful that we have the opportunity to build these connections and learn from one another."
Fanella agrees.
"I think one of the most rewarding parts of the organization is that the students often leave feeling that they received just as much from the experience as they gave," Fanella said. " And one of my favorite parts about volunteering is that you never know who you are going to meet or what stories they will share."
Fanella recalls a recent visit where a resident came down from his room to see what everyone was doing while the students were playing games with the seniors. The resident wasn't interested in playing a game himself, but he was excited to talk with the students, show them his new dentures, and talk about his more than 30 years as an art teacher.
"It was such a meaningful conversation, and it reminded me that every person carries their own stories, experiences, and history."
Nicole Esteves, the Recreation Director at Amberwoods, said the residents always look forward to the UConn students' monthly visits.
"These visits provide meaningful opportunities for personalized attention and one-on-one conversation, which can be especially valuable for residents who may not receive frequent visitors. The students are patient, compassionate, and skilled at adapting games and crafts to accommodate our residents' varying abilities, including those living with dementia. It's a rewarding experience for our residents."
Esteves also notes how this partnership serves as an excellent learning experience outside of the clinical setting that will prepare them for the future.
"I believe it also gives the students valuable experience building relationships with individuals who may have unique or complex needs as they advance in their dental careers."
