News from Landis Homes

originally published in The Mennonite, April 2013

Landis Homes resident Marian Jane Stoltzfus (left) with Kylah Morales, Hinkletown Mennonite School sixth grade student, together at Kylah’s baptism at New Holland (Pa.) Mennonite Church. They two met through GrandPals. Photo provided.

The GrandPals program and activities between Landis Homes and Hinkletown Mennonite School encourage positive interactions with people outside of the classroom and outside of the community, exposing both students & residents to new perspectives, possibly differing viewpoints, and certainly varying life experiences.

In GrandPals, the students “learn through an active relationship,” says fourth grade teacher Anette Raiser. “They learn about local, national & world history through the rich lives of their GrandPals. Many [GrandPals] were missionaries.”

It builds faith as students hear stories of God’s faithfulness in the lives of their GrandPals and as residents see God’s faithfulness in the next generation.

For Landis Homes’ residents, the GrandPals program provides “an opportunity for residents to give of their life experiences,” says Janice Hess, life enrichment coordinator. “It honors their lives and enriches the community around them.”

Stoltzfus says, “For some of us who don’t have our family close by, it’s been special to be able to relate to young children.”

Through the years, family connections have also been made among some GrandPals and students, enriching families in both communities.

Landis Homes resident Luke Horst has been a GrandPal to his great-grandsons, Nathaniel Martin in previous years and current fifth grade student Ian Martin. “I hope to be here for [great-granddaughter Hannah Martin] too,” says Horst.

Austin Stoltzfus, graduate of HMS, recalled his favorite thing about the GrandPal program as hearing about what life was like long ago for them. Current students agree and report learning from “real people” about The Great Depression, World War II, food rations, and the Watergate scandal that led to the impeachment of Richard Nixon.

Landis Homes resident Barbara Longenecker sits with Dominic Answer, fifth grade student at Hinkletown Mennonite School, Ephrata, Pa. The GrandPals program allows for these new relationships. Photo provided

Both residents and students are sometimes nervous about joining the program and the first meeting. Carefully planned activities and common interests lead to a comfort level for most students and residents.

At Landis Homes, Hess arranges a meeting for current GrandPals to share about the program with other residents, easing fears and encouraging residents to participate. One long-time GrandPal attests, “this is one of the best programs we have.”

These mutual benefits for the young and old gained the attention of the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Homes for the Aging (PANPHA), now known as LeadingAge PA.

In a 2005 publication PANPHA states, “For their inspirational creation of a mutually beneficial program for both young and old, PANPHA is proud to recognize Landis Home’s GrandPals program as Innovation of the Year.”