The Dementia Institute and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine have launched a first-in-the-nation Intergenerational Living Initiative at Holland Home’s Raybrook campus in Grand Rapids—designed to transform how future physicians learn about dementia care.
The program places a medical student onsite within a senior living community, creating a daily, immersive learning environment that goes beyond traditional clinical education. Through consistent, relationship-based interaction with residents living with dementia, the initiative aims to deepen understanding, strengthen empathy, and elevate standards of person-centered care.
Developed over more than two years of collaboration, the initiative reflects a shared commitment to advancing both dementia education and care delivery. Early response from residents has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the value of meaningful, intergenerational connection as part of the care experience.
By integrating academic training with real-world, community-based living, the program offers a new model for preparing future physicians—one that emphasizes seeing the whole person, not just the diagnosis. Leaders from both organizations see this as a scalable approach that could influence dementia care and education on a broader, national level.
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