Service-Learning Project
Human Relations in a Multicultural Society
Date: August 2018 – December 2018
Competencies: Self-Awareness lv. 2,3&4, Knowledge & Understanding lv. 2&3, Communication lv. 1&2
Competencies: Self-Awareness lv. 2,3&4, Knowledge & Understanding lv. 2&3, Communication lv. 1&2
Summary
As part of my Human Relations in a Multicultural Society class, I participated in a service-learning project through Birchwood Cottages. Birchwood Cottages is an assisted-living facility that specializes in patients with memory-loss diseases. I went to their North Mankato location once a week for a few hours to volunteer, assisting with exercise classes, arts & crafts, sing-a-longs, snack times, and general conversation times. I was able to meet a lot of interesting, genuine patients, and workers who were passionate about their quality of life.
As part of my Human Relations in a Multicultural Society class, I participated in a service-learning project through Birchwood Cottages. Birchwood Cottages is an assisted-living facility that specializes in patients with memory-loss diseases. I went to their North Mankato location once a week for a few hours to volunteer, assisting with exercise classes, arts & crafts, sing-a-longs, snack times, and general conversation times. I was able to meet a lot of interesting, genuine patients, and workers who were passionate about their quality of life.
Reflection
When I first arrived at Birchwood Cottages for my service-learning project, I was a little uneasy. The only times I visited assisted living facilities was usually to visit my elderly great Grandmas before they each passed, and I did not have much experience outside of those visits. However, as I got used to the daily routine and atmosphere, I started to get more comfortable. The main differences between myself and the residents was primarily our age and exceptionalities (Awareness lv. 2), and each of those differences brought differences in values and norms. Though I was used to interactions with older generations through my relationship with my grandparents and older brethren at church, I did not have as much understanding of people suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, and had to ignore any preconceived notions I had about those communities as I worked with them (Awareness lv. 3).
I learned that a big goal was to help the residents feel independent. Due to their memory-loss disorders, they were unable to live on their own, but being able to feel independent in small things could be a big win (Knowledge lv. 2). During their weekly exercise classes, about half of the residents would either be using the equipment to do their own workouts, or not participate at all. I thought it was very cool that the staff did not force participation. We were to encourage residents to join in, but if they weren’t feeling it on a particular day, they wouldn’t get shamed or looked down on. During the Monday afternoon open programming (usually coloring, a sing-along, or learning activity), I was surprised by how positive most of the residents were. Most of the nursing homes I’d been in before were sad, depressing places, and I realized I was coming into Birchwood Cottages with that preconceived idea of how it would look like. I had to acknowledge that my initial idea was wrong and learned that I cannot make assumptions about another culture without first understanding what, how, and why they do something (Awareness lv. 4). During this rotating programming session was when I got to know residents the most. I would ask questions about their childhood, background, and career among many other things. I found that many of the residents had lived full, exciting, and rewarding lives before coming to Birchwood, which you wouldn’t be able to tell by just looking at them (Knowledge lv. 3).
A large barrier that I had with the residents was in the realm of communication. Some of the residents were nonverbal, and most – if not all – were very forgetful due to their memory disorders. With some of the nonverbal residents, all I could do to communicate with them was to smile, gesture, and give the occasional thumbs-up (Communication lv. 1). And while I could have full conversations with many of the residents, I would have to ask them questions or answer their questions multiple times before they would acknowledge or comprehend it (Communication lv. 2). This was a somewhat difficult barrier between connecting to their community, but it was worth it as I got to know about them.
My time at Birchwood Cottages helped me get more comfortable with working with different, at-risk communities, as well as getting to know them. It also helped me realize that I cannot trust my preconceived notions on a particular community, even if it seems very small or insignificant on its own.
When I first arrived at Birchwood Cottages for my service-learning project, I was a little uneasy. The only times I visited assisted living facilities was usually to visit my elderly great Grandmas before they each passed, and I did not have much experience outside of those visits. However, as I got used to the daily routine and atmosphere, I started to get more comfortable. The main differences between myself and the residents was primarily our age and exceptionalities (Awareness lv. 2), and each of those differences brought differences in values and norms. Though I was used to interactions with older generations through my relationship with my grandparents and older brethren at church, I did not have as much understanding of people suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, and had to ignore any preconceived notions I had about those communities as I worked with them (Awareness lv. 3).
I learned that a big goal was to help the residents feel independent. Due to their memory-loss disorders, they were unable to live on their own, but being able to feel independent in small things could be a big win (Knowledge lv. 2). During their weekly exercise classes, about half of the residents would either be using the equipment to do their own workouts, or not participate at all. I thought it was very cool that the staff did not force participation. We were to encourage residents to join in, but if they weren’t feeling it on a particular day, they wouldn’t get shamed or looked down on. During the Monday afternoon open programming (usually coloring, a sing-along, or learning activity), I was surprised by how positive most of the residents were. Most of the nursing homes I’d been in before were sad, depressing places, and I realized I was coming into Birchwood Cottages with that preconceived idea of how it would look like. I had to acknowledge that my initial idea was wrong and learned that I cannot make assumptions about another culture without first understanding what, how, and why they do something (Awareness lv. 4). During this rotating programming session was when I got to know residents the most. I would ask questions about their childhood, background, and career among many other things. I found that many of the residents had lived full, exciting, and rewarding lives before coming to Birchwood, which you wouldn’t be able to tell by just looking at them (Knowledge lv. 3).
A large barrier that I had with the residents was in the realm of communication. Some of the residents were nonverbal, and most – if not all – were very forgetful due to their memory disorders. With some of the nonverbal residents, all I could do to communicate with them was to smile, gesture, and give the occasional thumbs-up (Communication lv. 1). And while I could have full conversations with many of the residents, I would have to ask them questions or answer their questions multiple times before they would acknowledge or comprehend it (Communication lv. 2). This was a somewhat difficult barrier between connecting to their community, but it was worth it as I got to know about them.
My time at Birchwood Cottages helped me get more comfortable with working with different, at-risk communities, as well as getting to know them. It also helped me realize that I cannot trust my preconceived notions on a particular community, even if it seems very small or insignificant on its own.
Artifact
Attached is the reflection paper I wrote about my service-learning project for my class.
Attached is the reflection paper I wrote about my service-learning project for my class.