Lifespace Communities Welcomes College Student to Deerfield

As students across the nation prepare to return to college campuses following a winter break spent with friends and family, one student in Iowa is getting ready to move in with some uncommon housemates. Thanks to a partnership between Deerfield Retirement Community and the Drake University music department, 21-year-old Haley Jenkins will be spending the spring semester as a resident of Deerfield, in return for a little musical entertainment.

“I’ll perform twice a month for residents and in return, I get to live here rent-free,” Jenkins said. “I’m officially the youngest senior living resident in Iowa.”

While it’s true Jenkins will receive meals as well as a free room and utilities as part of the agreement, she says being able to hone her performance skills and add a unique component to her resume was perhaps the most enticing part of her decision to move to Deerfield. Her love of older adults and her ability to make others smile through her performances made Jenkins the perfect fit for the community.

For the community’s part, Deerfield pursued the relationship in part because of its tie-in with Masterpiece Living, a successful-aging initiative that helps define the community’s culture. Deerfield is the only senior living community in Iowa to partner with Masterpiece Living, which supports intergenerational life experiences as a way to help individuals enhance their emotional health.

The fact that Jenkins will provide a live musical performance twice monthly also struck a chord with Deerfield and made the partnership attractive.

“I’ve been in senior living more than two decades, and this is one of the more unusual partnerships I’ve seen,” said executive director James Robinson. “This particular situation provides not just an entertainment value in terms of music, but an opportunity for residents to interact with a bright and talented local student.”

Jenkins is a music major with a vocal emphasis. Her minor is in musical theater, which makes the experience of providing musical entertainment for residents an opportunity to put what she’s studied into practice in a unique environment.

“Our residents care deeply about young people,” said Robinson. “More than just providing them with entertainment, Haley will be providing them with the opportunity to play a small role in her life and career.”

While Haley and the residents have already been getting to know one another, her official move-in day at the community is Friday, January 8. While there, she’ll also be blogging about her experience.

Sloan Bentley, president and CEO of Lifespace, which owns and operates Deerfield, says they’re always looking for the sorts of partnerships and opportunities that will make its communities stand out.

“This will have a profound impact on the vibrant culture at Deerfield, and the residents are truly excited about the opportunity,” she said.

Additionally, Deerfield is home to some former members of the Drake music department faculty, who dedicated their lives to the education and enhancement of the lives of students with a passion for music.

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