College student will keep singing for supper at CCRC

College student Haley Jenkins didn’t have to move out when spring semester ended.

Jenkins, a senior music major at Drake University, will continue to reside at Deerfield Retirement Community in Urbandale, Iowa.

“We feel like we’ve just scratched the surface of what’s possible between Haley and our residents,” Deerfield executive director James Robinson says in a news release. “As a result of this relationship, Haley is now thinking of a career in senior living, and she’s likely to spend the next several months exploring her interest in music and cognitive health for residents. It’s really an exciting time for our community.”

Jenkins, 21, will spend fall semester at Deerfield. She was the artist in residence for the spring semester as part of a pilot program between the university and continuing care retirement community. In exchange for room and board, Jenkins gave twice-monthly musical performances and blogged on Deerfield’s website.

Deerfield is a Life Care community providing independent living, skilled nursing and memory care Deerfield is owned by Lifespace Communities, Inc. a not-for-profit corporation that operates 12 CCRCs in seven states that serves more than 4,300 residents. 

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Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.