Volunteering At Chartwell Deerview Crossing

Three years ago, I had the pleasure of spending quality time with senior citizens in my local community at Sunrise Assisted Living. During my visits I read aloud to residents, listened to their life experiences, baked cookies and played board games with the residents.

From shoveling driveways or helping rake lawns for the senior citizens in my neighborhood I’m always there to lend a helping hand. However, some actions I take in my community are not done for other families but for my own. The responsibilities I have overtaken through the years in my household have definitely helped improve my maturity, and my character. I do these actions not to gain recognition, but instead to service my community and to aid those in need. Each day I aim to improve myself and to improve the community around me. Through doing that I exemplify these ideals, and will teach others of doing the same to keep our community

Last May, I traveled with Alternative Breaks to New York for community service. During this service, I worked with Meals on Wheels who dedicate their time to provide food for the elderly of Manhattan. As I delivered the food to the seniors, I got a sense of fulfillment because I made them smile by providing them with food. Thus, I chose MDC’s Single Stop because I wanted to make a difference in my home campus by providing and assuring nourishment to those that do not have it just like I did in New York. As my first two years of college comes to an end, I wanted to leave a mark of my own here at home at Miami Dade College North Campus. During the month of September, I decided to partner up with a few of my peers to serve at MDC’s Single Stop.

I took initiative to seek volunteering opportunities during summer holiday in 2017 with the aims of improving my verbal communication, rapport building skills and self confidence. I volunteered with the planned activity group at Essendon Adult Day Centre twice a week for a few months. I interacted with older clients from a culturally diverse background and those with high needs predominately dementia. I was able to build a good rapport with both the clients and other co-workers. I have also sought counselling to help me to cope with stress and improve self-esteem and self confidence.

I ambitiously decided that I would brighten the lives of the elderly by volunteering at a rest home, but discovered that the elderly were being neglected, shoved aside and forgotten. As I stepped into the home a pungent odor penetrated my nostrils, causing an instantaneous gagging reflex. The place was abounded with neglected and subdued inhabitants, yearning for attention. Anybody that passed them caused a sudden outburst of ranting. The negligence and disregard the home displayed appalled me, but helped me to realize that I wanted to make a difference and change the condition people live in.

For the volunteering assignment, I chose two volunteering events: the “Norcal Community College Counselor Breakfast” and the “CSUEB Education Summit.” Both of these events are being held on the California State East Bay Campus. They are both classified as special events, and they are both hosted by the Prospective Student Services Department. Although each of these events has a specific focus, they are both directly related to addressing the needs of prospective CSUEB students.

Many people don’t realize the true value of volunteering, but I’ve come to understand the incredible impact of volunteering through my experience at Memorial Hermann. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” For me, his words could not be truer.

I believe that one of the most precious things in our lives is our elders. It is sad to see that so many of them are neglected in a day to day bases. As I went through this course I learned so much not only about an issue with aging but also about the many services and organizations that help the elderly. Before this course I knew that there were service out there, but I honestly couldn’t tell you where or what they offered. One agency that I actually volunteered at for the day was the City meals on Wheels. City meals on Wheels is a program that provides meals for elderly whom are homebound in New York City. They provide meals for people in all five boroughs. City meals have been opened since 1981 and 57% of the elderly whom receive meals live alone. 40% of the meals delivered are for the elderly that very rarely or never leave their homes and 66% of their recipients are women.

Volunteering at the Laurel nursing home was an eye opener for me. I had done volunteer work before but the one that inspired me the most was for Laurel Nursing Home. As a group from AP Fatheree Vocational Tech Health Science class, we would go to the nursing home whenever they would allow us to come. At the nursing home, we would come up with games and activities to play with everyone such as: cards, bowling, family feud, and karoake. The best part about volunteering there was seeing the joy on their faces as we all walk in. Our presence meant more to them then we all would have expected especially for the ones who rarely got visitors. Being able to sit and listen to some of the stories they had to tell was a blessing. Although, I learned

Both of the gentlemen stated they had been in other homes and that this was the nicest home they had been in. Kenneth complained of his first home ¡°smelling more like a zoo than a nursing home.¡± John told me that his last home was on the South Side and that the neighborhood was filled with gang bangers and hoodlums. When his family visits here though, they wheel him through the Lincoln Park neighborhoods and it¡¯s nice. For all of the questions that I asked these two men, they had just as many questions for me. Heading in to this assignment, I hadn¡¯t really considered that someone would be asking ME questions. In the midst of all that happens in nursing homes, it¡¯s important to remember that these residents aren¡¯t just dependent, older people, but that they are still people just like you and I.

Volunteer work has always been a prominent activity that occurred within my life. Growing up with a father that was involved in the community so much that it felt like it was his job, I was always surrounded by community service and helping others. At the young age of six years old, I decided to do my part as well, feeding the homeless in a local church in New Bedford, Massachusetts. From that year on, I believe a majority of my most valuable characteristics derived directly from my volunteer work. Now, almost thirteen years later, I am involved in over 100 hours of community service per year and am ready to apply it into a new field- as a Resident Assistant.

When I heard about Generations during one of my AMS First Year Intern meetings, I quickly found myself connected with the club’s motive to integrate and support the Kingston senior community through one on one interactions. Specifically, I was excited to hear about the opportunity for the club to assist seniors at Providence Manor. Being highly interested in the medical field as well as with my experience working with the elderly, I believe that I am an excellent candidate for the Facilities Coordinator position. Starting off, throughout high school and my current years at university, I have collaborated and assisted with seniors on multiple occasions. For example, I was the club President for an organization named Junior Civitan, during which

When I was a Junior in Methuen High School, I was enrolled in community service program in which I have to go to hospitals or nursing homes and take the old patients to other room, bathroom, or to their cars during the time they get discharged. During that time period I noticed that there were many old patients who didn’t had any family members who came to either visit them or take them home. The only people who were helping them were either volunteers like me or the nurses. So when it was time to decide that what career I am going to pursue, I decided to be a nurse and give the old people a family experience with my required duties and responsibilities.

Those who have been inhibited deserve care at any age and in any circumstance. My time volunteering at assisted living facilities allowed me to address people’s diverse backgrounds in productive ways. Once a week, I worked with a resident in a

During my service learning experience, I chose to volunteer at Hermitage Gardens of Oxford. Hermitage Gardens of Oxford is a five-star assisted living facility located in Oxford, Mississippi. Assisted living facilities are housing for the elderly or disabled. In assisted living facilities duties such as prepared meals, nurse care, and housekeeping are provided. Seniors who need assistance with their daily activities and routines choose assisted living. Hermitage Gardens of Oxford is great for those who are retired or needs extra assistance. The environment of Hermitage of Gardens is warm, friendly, and homely. The residence and staffs treated me as if they had known me already. In my opinion, an environment in an assisted living facility should be