Service Learning Story of Engagement Fall 2014

Service Learning Story of Engagement Fall 2014

Central Wisconsin Center

I have chosen to continue my service learning at Central Wisconsin Center providing education on various health care topics for the foster grandparents. Central Wisconsin Center is a state residential and short-term treatment facility for individuals with developmental disabilities located in Madison, Wisconsin.  The foster grandparents are an integral part of active volunteer department at CWC that help individuals attend social events, enjoy outdoor activities and generally enrich their lives by providing companionship. They offer support that emphasizes personal dignity and quality of life as noted by CWC’s mission statement below.

 

 

The service learning blog reflection required by Regis University DNP program is fundamental to the focus of educating/servicing vulnerable populations.

According to Ash and Clayton (2004) the four academic learning outcomes associated with service learning reflection include:

1. A deeper understanding and better application of subject matter
2. Increased complexity of problem and solution analysis
3. Predictors of openness to new ideas, problem solving and critical thinking
4. Push students to think in new ways and develop alternative explanations for experiences and observations (p. 140).

Three general phases that results in rigorous reflection as identified by Ash and Clayton are:

• Description (objectivity) of an experience.
• Analysis in accordance with relevant categories of learning
• Articulation of learning outcomes.

Using the DEAL Model identified by Ash and Clayton I will reflect on my service learning objectives identified below for this semester.

 

The objectives for this semester’s service learning are

1. Identify topics of interest for educational sessions for foster grandparents that volunteer at CWC.       
    
2. Provide monthly educational sessions on identified topics of interest with a focus on incorporating information on proper nutrition and exercise.
         
3. Improve the knowledge base on healthy lifestyles for foster grandparents at CWC by providing age specific education.

 

Description  I have presented a series of educational sessions on proper nutrition/ exercise and safe infection control practices at the monthly meetings that are held for the foster grandparents. It is mandated from the foster grandparent’s program guidelines that education is provided on a monthly basis. The coordinator of the program was very pleased that a nurse educator would be able to provide continuity for education for this select group of people. As with developing any educational presentation I needed to know my audience. I approached this task by spending time with these women, getting to know what they valued, history about their families, lives, previous jobs and lifestyles. It was also an advantage that I had spent time with these individuals before with service learning activities. Once I established a relationship with the group I asked them to fill out a questionnaire about specifically what topics I could present. They had identified healthy snacks, exercise appropriate for individuals with physical limitations and how to make good choices when dining out, dental issues and infection control protocol on the resident living areas. When developing my content for each identified topic I had to consider their educational background (none were previous health care providers) and of course that the median age of the group is 82. Nationally, estimates are that the number of people age 65 and older will grow to 80 million by the year 2050 with the fastest growing group being those 85 and older (U.S. Census Bureau, 2004).

 

Analysis  My experience spending time with these octagerians gave me a new found respect for individuals that at 80 years of age identify the need to provide companionship for individuals who have developmental disabilities. My concern is that this volunteer group is helping an easily identifiable vulnerable population (individuals at CWC) but that they themselves are also a vulnerable population. The foster grandparents make a nominal wage of $4.56 an hour and have many physical limitations themselves. The majorities of the foster grandparents ride a bus to CWC, live in apartments and survive on social security. When I presented the topic of proper nutrition and discussed all the food groups they openly discussed living through the depression when meat was rationed. One woman shared her childhood when the only meat they ate was what her father had hunted that day. She commented “we never really knew what we were eating”.  It makes me appreciate their life experiences and realize that they had sacrificed much in their lives yet are so willing to help the individuals at CWC. I also realized the importance of socialization for the aged. The social circle that these women have formed is so important to their mental well-being.  According to Cesar (2010) those older adults who live past 80 years old find that many of their friends and in some cases family members have passed away, leaving them more isolated and alone.

 

Articulation of learning outcomes I have learned that life is what you make it. These women have been through many challenges in their lives and still possess a positive attitude. I learned this by listening to these women describe their values, thoughts about world problems, politics, approaches to health issues and be appreciative for the information that I share with them on a monthly basis. My objective is to provide education on nutrition/exercise and safe infection control practices yet I have learned just as much if not more from these ladies. I had to smile when I discussed reading/understanding food labels one do the ladies brought an ad from the local newspaper that said  “If you want to count calories don’t eat here” It was an ice cream parlor that had decadent ice cream cones/sundaes and cookies. That taught me that my audience anticipated my next topic and had a great sense of humor. It makes me wonder if our society really values the aged and realized all that we can learn from this population. These women exemplify lifelong learning.

 

Ash, S. L., & Clayton, P. H. (2004). The articulated learning: An approach to guided  reflection and

                 assessment. Innovative Higher Education, 29(2), 137-154.

 Census.gov. (2004). Retrieved November 11, 2014, from http://www.census.gov/

 Cesar, D. (n.d.). Article - Healthy Aging-What role does socialization play. Retrieved November 11,

              2014 from http://www.alwaysbestcare.com/feature-articles/article---healthy-aging role-does-              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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