I volunteered my time at a couple of different places. I went to two assisted
living communities here in Charleston. They were Lakeview and Heritage Woods. I
also visited a nursing home called Hilltop. Along with volunteering at those
three places I tutored a young boy at the Newman Center on Tuesdays and
Thursdays for an hour.
At the assisted living communities and nursing home I basically just talked
with those who lived there. I learned so much about their lives, and their
family’s lives as well. These visits reflected concepts I learned in my FCS in
many different ways. For instance, I learned in my aging and family class that
many individuals who live in assisted living or nursing homes love to give
advice to the younger generation. While at all three places the individuals I
communicated with all told me a piece of advice. I learned that many do not
have families that visit them, that they were just dropped off. This was talked
about not only in life span development, family in crisis, but also in
disadvantage families. Some do not have the patience or money/resources to
provide for their aging parents. Assisted living communities and nursing homes
are the only options. From tutoring the young boy and listening to him I
learned that the school and the resources they have are not as good as the
schools in my district. I also learned that both his parents work, which means
he has to hang with them after school or go to his grandmother’s house. This
class discussed under privileged schools and the effects. This experience also
was one of many talked about in my families in crisis.
At the assisted living communities, nursing home, and, Newman center I
encountered many professionals. I had the privilege to talk with them one on
one and ask them questions about their jobs, and internships. The assisted
living community, Heritage Woods, said they would love to have an individual
like me as an intern. The Newman center professionals showed me other ways to
get involved in my community and encouraged me to contact them with any service
ideas in the family and consumer science field. They are very involved with
helping out the community around them.
Tutoring these children has not only a positive effect on their grades which
allows them to do better in school. It also allows them an older individual to
serve as their role model. It allows the children to actually have someone sit
down one on one with them and help them with what they need. They may not get
this opportunity at home. This service shows the community how important
schooling is for children. It shows them that may want to help out the
community in any way possible. How the assisted living/nursing home effects the
community is in a totally different way. It provides a safe environment for older
adults who can no longer live on their own. It also provides an environment
where families can go visit them, and not have to worry constantly about that
individual. These services in the different living environments allow the older
adults to socialize with one another, work out, play games, etc. It allows them
to continue to live.
I loved tutoring and talking with the older adults. I found that not only was I
tutoring the child in school, but also in life. I got to see a learning
environment that was totally the opposite of mine, and the effects it has on
the individual. I found that older adults are not scary as so many people
think. Yes, you may have to repeat yourself and talk louder, but they provided
me hours of entertainment. They told me stories of their loved ones and gave me
plenty of advice. I really honored my time with them. They are our past, but I
feel like they affect our future so much.
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