BLOG 1: The name of my workplace is
called AgeSong and it is a senior home for elderly people. The building is
three stories high and it is pretty big. It is located in Oakland right by lake
merit. It is a very beautiful building. It is surrounded by so much grass and nature
and the air just feels so fresh and clean. In the inside they have what are
called “neighborhoods”. The walls are painted like a big portrait of what would
seem like houses like if you were walking down the street. There is a good
amount of people that work there. On the first floors they have the
receptionist and a few other ladies who work in their offices. On the second
floor they have all the elderly people who can walk and talk a lot more than
others. They are more active on the second floor. On the third floor they have
all the elderly people that cant walk or talk or sleep the majority of the
time. They are a lot more calm and quiet on the third floor. I noticed that the
majority of the workers there are middle aged and very mature and they are very
friendly people and are always smiling and very talkative. AgeSong is a big business,
which is located in many different areas. I work at the one by Lake Side Park.
One strength that I like a lot that my workplace has is that everyone is very
friendly and welcoming so I felt like I fit in right away. I love how everyone
smiles which gives the place such a positive and happy feeling. I can’t really
point out a weakness. Maybe one weakness could be that it is somewhat tricky on
how to get there and it is kind of hidden. I think it should be more open
because it is a really amazing place and shouldn’t be hidden.
BLOG 2:
My mentors name is Marsha. She works at AgeSong working on both floors and making sure
everything is running smoothly. She also has a lot of meetings throughout the day so she keeps a very
busy schedule. She is usually there every day but there are some days she takes off to rest just like
everyone. I am not sure what days she has off but I do know she gets fridays off. When she is there, I
see her in her office on the computer or she is in a meeting talking to someone. Other times I see her
on both floors talking with the seniors and workers and also participating in activities when she has the
time. I am not sure what skills/education/ or field she had to take to get the position she is in. But I am
sure it has to do with something with social work since she is working with seniors and and helping
them and providing a home for them. Probably also something that has to do with psychology since
most of the time I see mostly all the workers sharing conversations with the seniors and making them
happy.
everything is running smoothly. She also has a lot of meetings throughout the day so she keeps a very
busy schedule. She is usually there every day but there are some days she takes off to rest just like
everyone. I am not sure what days she has off but I do know she gets fridays off. When she is there, I
see her in her office on the computer or she is in a meeting talking to someone. Other times I see her
on both floors talking with the seniors and workers and also participating in activities when she has the
time. I am not sure what skills/education/ or field she had to take to get the position she is in. But I am
sure it has to do with something with social work since she is working with seniors and and helping
them and providing a home for them. Probably also something that has to do with psychology since
most of the time I see mostly all the workers sharing conversations with the seniors and making them
happy.
BLOG 3: Today I started my new internship at AgeSong near Lakeside Park in Oakland. AgeSong is a senior home for many elderly people and the building is two stories high and it feels very much like a HUGE home. My responsibility there was to watch over and entertain the seniors. I had the opportunity to make pizza as some of them watched and one senior named Helen helped. I also played bingo with them, which was a lot of fun because they got so excited when they won. Since it was my first day at this intern I am not sure what I will be completing each week. But I will definitely be interacting a lot with the seniors at this home. I like it a lot because every individual senior has their own traits that make them unique and it is very interesting to observe them and quietly listen to everything they say. Some are very funny and others can nearly shock you to death by the things they say. For example after we were done making pizza, one senior approached Meagan who also interns there and he was telling her some weird story that she was lucky because the guy that lived in his attack was about to kill her and kick her a**. I was shocked when I heard him curse and say these things with such a serious face. And then there was many other seniors who where so sweet and kind and would hold my hand or kiss my hand as a signal of saying hello and they are all so beautiful and amazing. I just love it here. The view is amazing and it is right by lake merit and the weather is perfect. Walking around the building they have neighborhoods, which give the place a feeling like you are walking down the street of your own block. I can’t wait to go back next Tuesday and get to know the seniors more and hopefully grow relationships with them.
BLOG 4: For my WLE project I am thinking of doing a project that
would have me interacting with the seniors I work with at AgeSong. I came up
with this idea because as I have been working there all the activities we do
are inside the building and even though I do have fun, the building is right
across the street from Lake Merritt which is a very big lake and it is very
pretty and nature like and I would love to be able to walk around the lake with
the seniors so they could enjoy the nature and play some games and have some
fun. I am excited to do this so we could plan a really big event with the
seniors and have a really fun day and make a lot of them happy. I will need to
start out by talking to my mentor and find out if it is a possibility that the
seniors can actually leave the building and if it is safe enough to be able to
go to the lake and play games and walk around. I would like to see if I could
possibly also rearrange a potluck with the people that work there so they could
also have fun and enjoy some fun. Then if it is, I will work on thinking of a
theme the seniors would like and games they love to play. But if it is not a
possibility, I am thinking of doing like a dancing party and invite friends and
family that would come and help support because everyone loves music and a lot
of the seniors there love to dance.
Blog 5
Today at my WLE I worked on the second floor as usual with the seniors. I was able to bake some bread with another intern there so the seniors had something to snack on. The bread was like a cinnamon flavor with sweet raisins in it. It actually came out pretty good and I was proud because a lot of the seniors enjoyed it and kept asking for more bread. My mentor and I planned that the last day of my WLE, the other intern that I work with and I would bake holiday cookies and get some seniors involved. I do not need to do much for my project since they already provide most of the things we would need. They had a holiday cd we could play while we bake and they also had those cookie cutters that are shaped like objects that have to with Christmas like a Christmas tree, snow man, snow flakes, and much more. Now all I have to do is go to the store and buy some cookie dough and be sure to bring it on the last day.
Blog 6
In my WLE, I feel like the leadership I am using the most is Collaborating Productively because in my WLE I am mainly interacting with the seniors all day and doing activities with them. So every Tuesday I come, I participate and engage in all the things going on and I also encourage the seniors to participate with us because that is the whole point of the activities. I also have to be like a leader because since most of them lose their memory or tend to forget things at times, I have to step up and show them how some things are done until they get the hang of it. Like for example, when we make bracelets, I pair up with another senior and I ask them what beads and string they would like to use and I help lead them through the instructions. One way I could improve in this leadership is by reflecting on my work and then specialize my work I do with the seniors to be able to collaborate even better. This leadership skill basically helps me through out the whole time I am here. If I do not collaborate productively, then nothing would get done and I would just be a limp on a log not doing anything. I feel like my mentor also uses the same leadership skill for the same reasons but she also thinks critically because sometimes things can go wrong or get outa hand and she always steps in to identify what the problem Is and find a proper way to justify it and solve the problem.
Blog 7
While working here at my workplace, one thing I learned about myself is that I in fact enjoy working with seniors and I can build relationships with them and share memorable moments with them. I don’t really fell like I faced any challenges because it was just like if I was at home spending time with my “old” family. One thing I did take away from working here is that life is to short to put it to waste. It really hurt me to see how sad some of the seniors are and some lonely. Some don’t even remember their family or friends and that really hurt me because I do not want to forget the people I love. But that isn’t something I can control so I might as well make the best of it while I am still young and live up to all my dreams and accomplish all my goals so I can be able to not just say I made it through life, but I enjoyed my life. I used my creativity a lot here at AgeSong because we do activities every time I come so I am able to express my creativity. Before coming here, I thought that retirement homes were lame and boring and were going to look like hospitals. But when I arrived, I was totally wrong. I had such a wonderful fun time here and the workplace looked so amazing like if I was walking down the street. They had their own neighborhoods and it was right next to the lake and I was able to walk around with some seniors and it was just an amazing experience I was able to share with them.
Blog 8
I actually struggled to find a WLE because I did not know what I wanted to intern at and the places I was interested in where rather not taking in interns or were too far for me to get there. So once my friend told me her mom works as a nurse at a senior home and she was going to work with her and they love volunteers coming in, I decided to join her. In order to get in I just had to fill out some paper work that asked simple questions about myself to make sure I wasn’t a mad man or something. But I personally already have a job and I learned that the most effective way to get hired for a job is to do what you can to get noticed. There are many people looking for jobs and want the same spot you are hiring for. So you have to keep calling until you get a solid answer if yes or no they will hire you and go to interviews and keep following up. As a result of my WLE, I think being a professional or a responsible adult in the work world means to follow up with your boss or mentor to meet all the requirements needed for the job. Also dressing professionally, talking professionally, acting professionally, and just being a mature person. Also being on time is important to show your boss or mentor that you care about your job and you are there to take it serious.
Blog 9
Today at my intern, I was able to help decorate the Christmas tree on the second floor. It was really fun because we made a string of popcorn to put on the Christmas tree because that is what they use to do way back then when they had no Christmas lights and fancy ornaments that we use today. I have improved as an intern by opening up more and not being shy to interact with the seniors. The best thing I like about this workplace is that the people that work here are diverse in ethnicity and everyone is very friendly and welcoming. Everyone always has a smile when I look at them and ask how am I doing and all that. I also love that it is right by the lake because sometimes during my lunch brake I will go walk around the lake and just relax. The only thing I was kind of iffy about was that it was in Oakland and I had to take bus and bart and I do not know my way around Oakland. I was also going at the time when people were protesting at the court house and that was near my workplace and some people actually got shot so it was becoming dangerous. But besides that, I loved everything about my workplace.
Blog 10
Final thoughts I have about my WLE is that I am actually looking into possibly having a career like this. I have always wanted to be a social worker like working with teens that are considered delinquents but there is usually always a strong story behind their actions that cause them to do the things they do. I personally love working with others and helping them out in any way possible that I can. This experience will have an effect on my future goals because like I said before, after working here, I learned that I enjoyed working with seniors and I liked how I was able to build relationships with them and interact with them. Never would I have thought that this is what it would feel like to work at a senior home and so therefore it has changed my perspective at how I look at retirement homes and has opened my options in what career I want to take on once I am old enough to decide.I would love to come back and visit AgeSong again and do some volunteer work and stay in touch with the people there. And I am also looking into visiting ither retirement homes and see the differences and similarities that they share and possibly find a place where I would like to work at.
