According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, nearly 1 in 5 Arizonans is 65 or older.
Francisca Castillo, a San Luis senior and participant in a University of Arizona program called TAG, Together Across Generations, said the program has been a blessing.
For the last 10 months, students from San Luis High School have met monthly or biweekly to share recipes, photos, meals and life lessons with border seniors. The TAG project implements and spreads evidence-based strategies to reduce social isolation and loneliness among Arizona elders and partnered with communities in Yuma, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties, including local organization, Campesinos Sin Fronteras.
Yahir Gutierrez, Arizona Western College student comments on one of the last sessions with the seniors: “It’s one of the last meetings we’re having and I’m honestly really sad in a way, because it was really nice to connect with all these people.”
Students held a raffle; the winning abuelito received a home cleaning. The Castillo family was selected…