Seong-Oea Hibner's LINK assignment

Seong-Oea Hibner

Project LINK

1.     I volunteered at that the Heritage Woods assistant-living home at 480 West Polk Ave in Charleston.  

2.      The service activity reflected the concepts we learned in class by learning about how the elderly is disadvantaged. Many residents commuted by wheel chair or walker. I met one resident whose family visits frequently. She goes to church every Sunday and she recently got her nails painted. I played UNO with her. She stays active in the assistant-living home by participating in Bingo and being social during meal times. She is an active resident. I met another resident who does not have family visit her. Her family lives in Decatur, but they do not come out as much. She was very happy to have me talk to her and hold her hand. The residents were disadvantaged because they could not take care of themselves independently, had hearing loss, and had memory loss.

3.      I networked with the facility professionals by asking them how I can help. She replied by moving the residents into their rooms after lunch, and to converse with them. She asked if I was involved in a sorority because many sororities come to get hours. I told her this was for a class. Once it was time to go, the facility members helped me leave.

4.      The potential effect of visiting the assistant-living home is powerful because it can brighten a person’s day. It makes the resident happy and feels special that someone came to stop by and say hello. Many residents do not have family that visits them, so they are extra happy to have a kind stranger come. I asked a resident how his day has been. He replied boring, and the time is going to slow. Although he was bored before, he enjoyed my company and offered some advice to me. When I first walked in the assistant-living home, I felt that I was there to give them something, but after talking to some residents I felt that they gave me a little something too.

5.      I felt that visiting the assistant-living home was a great experience. I enjoyed talking to the residents. I went there two times with Maggie Childers. The first time I went with a friend, Doris, who goes there often. She knew many residents on a first-name basis and they remembered her name. They smiled when they saw her coming and conversed about their day. Many residents were very happy to see her. That was really nice to see because I saw how my friend was making a difference in the residents day. The second time I went, the residents I met before remembered my face and smiled. They were very friendly. I encouraged them to do well in Bingo. I played UNO with a resident twice. I talked to about 5 residents. They repeated their stories, but it was nice to listen to them. I think many times, the elderly wants someone to talk to. They just stay in their rooms, and that can get lonely. It was nice going and talking to them. Sometimes, the hallways somewhat smelled, but I did my best to be nice to everyone.
If I had a family member in an assistant-living home, I know how important it is to visit him or her frequently. It can get lonely and depressing living there alone. I appreciate that the facility does their best to care for the elderly and that the residents have the opportunity to feel like they are part of a community.

I learned that it is important to have an open mind while visiting an assistant-living home. Sometimes, I felt uncomfortable because of the smell, or think a lot about what is the best way to talk to them. I talked to them with a fellow classmate, Maggie Childers. She came with me both times and we helped each other talk to the residents. It is nice to have a buddy to go together.