Samaritan launches new Intergenerational Pilot Program connecting local youth and seniors

Samaritan, the Mount Laurel-based hospice, palliative, and primary care provider, held a celebratory picnic recently to recognize the successful launch of its new Intergenerational Pilot Program, designed to connect local youth and seniors to foster valuable relationships and shared respect for one another in a new way.

As one of the first organizations in the country to launch programs designed to address and reduce social isolation and loneliness, Samaritan organized the Social Isolation, Loneliness and Connection Collaborative (SILCC), a coalition of major health systems and 40+ nonprofits, which addresses the physical and mental toll of social isolation.

The Intergenerational Pilot Program is the direct result of SILCC’s strategic vision and planning.

“Samaritan’s Intergenerational Pilot Program aims to foster meaningful connections between youth and older adults, creating a bi-directional impact and encouraging stronger social connections,” Samaritan President and CEO Phillip Heath said. “Developing and launching this program speaks to our organization’s overall mission and vision – we are fostering deeper intergenerational relationships to help combat loneliness and isolation, while at the same time working to eliminate any preexisting biases in order to build bridges and strengthen bonds.”

“The Intergenerational Pilot Program is intentionally designed to help decrease social isolation and loneliness among individuals of different generations,” Erika Thomas, the director of social connections at Samaritan said. “Both generations of individuals have the invaluable opportunity to share their own experiences and wisdom with one another – all the while cultivating a deeper understanding and mutual respect through their shared experience in the program.”

***

For the initial run of the Intergenerational Pilot Program, students from Bobby’s Run School in Lumberton were partnered with residents from The Roosevelt senior living community in Mount Laurel from April through June 2025. Throughout the duration of the pilot program, the students and residents conducted bi-weekly virtual visits with one another, which included a variety of fun, yet intentional bonding activities

The pilot program then culminated with the celebratory picnic, where residents from The Roosevelt and Bobby’s Run students gathered together to meet each other in person.

Samaritan hopes to expand the Intergenerational Pilot Program in the coming year – partnering with even more schools and senior living communities in order to foster deeper, lasting relationships among participants.