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.
Camila Mesa, recent San Luis High School graduate: “I can remember my grandma, and it can be a little difficult at this age to clean out some stuff, and I think it’s very important so you can help them out.”
Rosa Guerra, TAG coordinator with Campesinos Sin Fronteras (in Spanish): “Una acomodadita, sacarles la basurita de donde ellos a lo mejor no pueden y trajimos unos detalles para poner aquí en la casa y ojalá queden contentos, ¿verdad?” (Translation: “A little tidying, taking out the trash from places they maybe can’t reach, and we brought some small gifts to put in the house and hopefully they are happy, right?”)
Chloe Ruiz, program coordinator for Campesinos Sin Fronteras: “We do want to work with seniors who feel isolated so even if we don’t have funds we want to make sure we help people in our community.”
Yahir Gutierrez, who will pursue a nursing major at AWC, said working with elders was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Yahir Gutierrez: “It’s very important to speak to the people that came before you because they have a lot of experiences and stories that you can learn from.”
The U.S. surgeon general’s 2023 report, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” detailed why social connection matters and urged national efforts to reduce isolation.
