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.
- A deeper understanding and better application of subject matter
- Increased complexity of problem and solution analysis
- Predictors of openness to new ideas, problem solving and critical thinking
- Push students to think in new ways and develop alternative explanations for experiences and observations (p. 140).
- 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.
- Identify topics of interest for educational sessions for foster grandparents that volunteer at CWC.
- Provide monthly educational sessions on identified topics of interest with a focus on incorporating information on proper nutrition and exercise.
- 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.
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,
I