Legacy Builders
Volunteers and University students, known as Legacy Builders, connect with older adults living in-home, or in retirement communities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities via in-person, phone or through virtual visits. The discussions focus on building rapport and providing a sense of hope, while also allowing the older adult to impart wisdom and share stories of their past with the students. A digital or physical legacy book is provided back to the older adult at the end of the sessions.
What our students are saying on
“Becoming a Legacy Builder”…
Why Tellegacy was started?
Why Tellegacy was started?
In 2020, after hearing from a community chaplain that many older adults were experiencing increased isolation from family and friends, Jeremy Holloway, PhD, decided to create a flexible, relationship-oriented mindfulness, goal setting and guided imagery curriculum grounded in mindfulness practices, guided imagery, and goal setting. Today the program brings legacy across generations. The design allows university students to connect one-on-one with older adults in person, by phone, or through virtual meetings. These visits support residents in nursing homes, assisted living settings, and retirement communities and healthcare students by creating consistent social engagement opportunities. Since its development, the award-winning program has been implemented by more than seventy-five universities and senior organizations across the United States and Canada.
Dr. Jeremy Holloway
Dr. Jeremy Holloway
Dr. Jeremy Holloway is a former Geriatric Education Professor and a current Professor at New Mexico Highlands University, where his work centers on Health Equity, Resiliency, and Social Connection. His research delves into the Social Determinants of Health, with an emphasis on enhancing self-efficacy, connectedness, and resiliency among older adults.
Dr. Holloway designed an innovative curriculum for intergenerational programs that integrates evidence-based practices such as growth mindset training, reminiscence therapy, mindfulness, guided imagery, and S.M.A.R.T. goal-setting techniques. These approaches have been shown to significantly enhance resiliency, self-agency, and overall well-being in older adults, addressing the pressing challenges of loneliness and isolation.
Beyond his academic contributions, Dr. Holloway is a passionate advocate for health equity and inclusion, championing initiatives that promote understanding and collaboration across multiple communities. He currently resides in Fargo, North Dakota, with his wife and four children.
