Students at Nazareth University are trading their dorm rooms to live at an independent senior living facility, St. John’s Meadows in Brighton. It’s a way for them to get experience in their majors before graduation.

For Nazareth senior Sarah Daddona, a water volleyball game is actually part of her homework.

“They actually get more competitive than a team volleyball game, which I love,” Daddona said.

Daddona is spending the first three weeks of her senior year of college living at St. John’s Meadows. She’s one of two Nazareth University students doing so.

“We eat with them, do activities with them and just chat with them,” Daddona said. “[It’s] kind of like our everyday lives."

A volleyball game is one of those activities.

Daddona is minoring in gerontology, the study of aging. This partnership with St. John’s gives her 24/7 access to her future patients.

"I'm working on a project back at Nazareth about the quality of life for dementia patients,” Daddona said. “Being able to talk to loved ones here who have other loved ones that have dementia has been helpful for my project at school.”

Having students get that hands-on experience is something that residents like Patricia Corcoran appreciate.

“So many people in their courses never have a chance to interact with people our age so we look forward to it,” Corcoran said. 

They also look forward to these volleyball games.

Daddona and the other students stay at St. John’s is almost over, but Patricia and the others aren’t ready to say goodbye.

"We wish they were staying longer than three weeks because we sort of fall in love with these girls as you can,” Corcoran said. "Especially when they’re great volleyball players.”