Kioku Project Pairs Students With Seniors in Denver

A new intergenerational program in the Highlands connects students with residents at Ciela Senior Living.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Alzheimer’s

Bold vector editorial illustration showing two figures of different ages sitting together at a table, representing intergenerational social connection. — The Kioku Project, founded by Ella Shuman, pairs volunteers with seniors in Denver to foster social inclusion through intergenerational activities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Kioku Project connects roughly 15 student volunteers with memory care residents at Ciela Senior Living in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood. Founded by Ella Shuman, the initiative encourages intergenerational interaction through shared activities like storytelling and board games.

Why it matters

The project challenges Western norms of senior isolation by fostering deep connections between generations. Shuman seeks to integrate elderly residents into the broader community using cultural practices inspired by Japan.

The Kioku Project mobilizes a consistent group of 15 student volunteers who visit the memory care unit each week. The program tailors all interactive activities to the specific cognitive interests and individual capabilities of each resident.

The players

Ella Shuman

She is the founder of the Kioku Project who launched the initiative following personal experiences with family loss.

Ciela Senior Living

This is a residential care facility located in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver.

The details

Volunteers and residents participate in personalized activities designed to build bonds outside of traditional care settings. The initiative aims to shift how society approaches the aging process by prioritizing social inclusion over isolation.

Student volunteers visit the facility on a weekly basis.
Founder Ella Shuman experienced the loss of her grandmother, Kaz, in 2023.

The Big Picture

This program follows a pattern set by the Japanese cultural practice of elderly integration in how it structures social support. By placing seniors within a communal framework, the project marks a departure from standard Western models that often isolate aging populations.

This initiative provides residents with consistent social stimulation that may improve daily engagement. Families with loved ones at the facility can expect a more integrated social environment that prioritizes personal storytelling and play.

The takeaway

Intergenerational programs can offer meaningful social benefits for seniors living in memory care settings. Residents and younger volunteers often find mutual value in shared activities that bridge generational divides.