Project Link-Felicia

1. For this assignment I volunteered my time at a Nursing Home in University Park, IL.

2. The service activity reflected concepts learned in the current FCS course by the way elderly are treated in today's society. We learned in class how over 1/2 of the elderly have a documented disability and 40% have activity limitations. This was true because when I went to the nursing home they had a list of all the residents that have disabilities such as schizophrenia  have to be in a wheelchair, and those who have a home nurse come and clean their home because they are physically incapable to do certain things on their own. Some elderly people that were in the nursing home had dealt with financial abuse, sexual, emotional, and abandonment that has caused them to become depressed and not want to do anything. Most of them didn't have families to come visit them and just wanted someone to talk to about anything.

3. I networked with other professionals that were there by having a little history or background of the different elderly patients that I was assigned to help with. They were able to give me advice on what to do and what not to do when it came to these individuals as well as how to make them smile. Some of the elderly     just wanted someone to be in their presence and to just listen to what they had to say rather than treat them in an unfair way which some of them have experienced. This is why they are careful who they allow volunteer  in their facility because there have been some issues in the past that has caused problems between the elderly and those who have volunteered. In addition, gained respect and learned that you have to have patience to deal with the elderly because they don't move very fast, may not hear very well, and may take a lot of time to do certain things.

4. The potential effect that the service organization has on the community is that they are very close with one another and that the police department is right next to the nursing home so they are responsive immediately. When there are holidays the community such as the church that is right next to the nursing home comes and brings food that they cooked for the residents. They come and serve and play games with some of the residents that may not have family to come and visit them. The community is very close and is there for the elderly when needed.

5. Overall, I enjoyed the assignment because I've always loved the elderly because I'm close with my grandparents and have seen various ways they are treated in society. My grandmother lived in this nursing home in the past and she experienced both positive and negative outcomes. It's different to see how the nursing home was then and now because there has been a drastic change. All these people want is for someone to talk to, help them do things around their home, or just to listen and enjoy their company. Some of them don't have family come and visit them, which has caused them to be very depressed. I see some of the elderly cry while I was their because of the things they've been through, how they have no family, or just wish they would die. This experience just made me be grateful for my family and realize how lucky we are to be able to take my grandmother in our home.