So over this project, I am thankful and humble for the people over at C.A.S.I. to let Luke and I become volunteers and to interact with the community they have. But at the beginning of this project, my perception of Jane's place has changed. At the beginning, I had thought that Jane's Place was just place for people with dementia and alzheimer's. But I was wrong.
Jane's Place is an adult day care center. So only some of the elderly that are there suffer from a case of dementia. Most of the elderly just go there to get out of the house to get away from staring at a tv by themselves. But the elderly that are there helped shape my interpersonal communication.
While at Jane's Place, I was showed key concepts in communication. These were perception, communication climate, and listening. The ways that the elderly and the staff had showed these concepts to me were quite interesting to me. These concepts I did not think about that much before. But now they are some of the main points I look for when I communicate with people. It is influencing my communication in the fact that I perceive people differently than what I did before.
I was happy that this project did this to me. I see it as a strengthening in my communication skills. I cannot wait to keep going back to C.A.S.I. for future service and to interact with elderly that I know and got to communicate with.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Blog #4
On friday April 12th, and it is the last day for Luke and I to get our 12+ hours of service. I cannot believe that we were able to complete all 12 hours in the small amount of time. With the these last days, there was not much that we did with the elderly. We played the "Luck game" and watched Jeopardy. But there is something different about this time compared to the previous times that we had done these activities.
Perception. The elderly started to perceive Luke and I differently. The reason is because they had started to get used to us being there. They saw us as any of the other workers that are there all the days that Jane's Place is open. We weren't just a couple of students looking for service but Luke and Davis. The elderly started to get to know us and like us. This comes to show me that perception of others helps people break boundaries between each other.
This service project has opened my eyes. How I perceive people will help me consider people from acquaintances from friends and how I communicate with each person. My perception of the elderly also changed with my service project. They love having visitors and I like to think most elderly do. Perception has influenced communication through history and it will influence my future.
Perception. The elderly started to perceive Luke and I differently. The reason is because they had started to get used to us being there. They saw us as any of the other workers that are there all the days that Jane's Place is open. We weren't just a couple of students looking for service but Luke and Davis. The elderly started to get to know us and like us. This comes to show me that perception of others helps people break boundaries between each other.
This service project has opened my eyes. How I perceive people will help me consider people from acquaintances from friends and how I communicate with each person. My perception of the elderly also changed with my service project. They love having visitors and I like to think most elderly do. Perception has influenced communication through history and it will influence my future.
Blog #3
Well on Wednesday April 10th, Luke and I had completed over half of the amount hours that we needed. I can't believe that we were able to get this many done in the short amount of time that we had. Though I know we had the chance to do it over a longer period of time but in the time of being approved volunteers. But in this period of time I have gotten to know the staff there and the elderly that commonly visit there. I would like to talk about them in this blog post and the climate that they have there.
So on the Tuesday before, Luke and I had went in the morning to get some extra time and we got to meet some of the ladies that are there from opening to closing. When we sat down with them, we started to talk to them and explain who we are. I have come to find out that they like jokes. Jo is a small firecracker full of jokes. She loves to say them. She would ask if she has told us a joke so she doesn't repeat them. I thought that the fact she felt ok telling me jokes and parts of her life to me was because of the climate that she is was in.
In Jane's Place, it seems that the elderly seem very comfortable with each other, the staff, and all of the volunteers that they have there. The elderly may have known each longer but they seem to be able strike a conversation with anyone that enters the door. The climate is one where there is no hate but just a place where people can relax and comfortable. The place makes me want to go there when I am old. The climate is why this place is doing well in business and why the elderly like to go there. I hope that I can be accepted by all of the elderly there as I visit there more be able to gain their trust.
So on the Tuesday before, Luke and I had went in the morning to get some extra time and we got to meet some of the ladies that are there from opening to closing. When we sat down with them, we started to talk to them and explain who we are. I have come to find out that they like jokes. Jo is a small firecracker full of jokes. She loves to say them. She would ask if she has told us a joke so she doesn't repeat them. I thought that the fact she felt ok telling me jokes and parts of her life to me was because of the climate that she is was in.
In Jane's Place, it seems that the elderly seem very comfortable with each other, the staff, and all of the volunteers that they have there. The elderly may have known each longer but they seem to be able strike a conversation with anyone that enters the door. The climate is one where there is no hate but just a place where people can relax and comfortable. The place makes me want to go there when I am old. The climate is why this place is doing well in business and why the elderly like to go there. I hope that I can be accepted by all of the elderly there as I visit there more be able to gain their trust.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Service Blog #2
Finally after many weeks of phone tag and papers being signed, on April 5th, Luke and I performed volunteer service at C.A.S.I. We had been there the Wednesday before to sign papers, so we had no problems on where to go. But when you enter Jane's Place in C.A.S.I. you begin to feel at home. Jane's Place is an Adult day care for the elderly. It gives the elderly visiting that they are in the comfort of neighborly home. Luke and I had to ring a doorbell to come in. So if that is not homey, than I don't what is.
Once we had entered, one of the workers sat us in the living room to have us wait for contact there. So we had waited, waited, and waited for almost one hour. But over that time we still got to interact with a couple of the elderly visitors. One I will always remember is Don. He is a retired business owner and he liked to get in trouble. He tested the patience of the workers of Jane's Place but he didn't mind it at all. But he wouldn't speak so clearly, so I had to listen precisely as I can to him. Listening is an important aspect to all communication. But volunteering helped see that more.
Listening helped me realize what the elderly were meaning when we playing bingo or what the other workers needed me to do while we were handing out snacks to the elderly. Listening helps me to interpret the meaning behind the words that are being spoken. If I was a good listener, I would have others to repeat what they are saying and that is not the most polite thing to do. So if I can do anything correct while volunteering is to listen to the best abilities.
So from here, Luke and I have many more trips to C.A.S.I. before we can call this project done. I will use the concept that I have outlined here more properly than what I what try now. I cannot wait to visit the elderly I had talked to and began to form friendships with. Especially the troublemaker Don.
Once we had entered, one of the workers sat us in the living room to have us wait for contact there. So we had waited, waited, and waited for almost one hour. But over that time we still got to interact with a couple of the elderly visitors. One I will always remember is Don. He is a retired business owner and he liked to get in trouble. He tested the patience of the workers of Jane's Place but he didn't mind it at all. But he wouldn't speak so clearly, so I had to listen precisely as I can to him. Listening is an important aspect to all communication. But volunteering helped see that more.
Listening helped me realize what the elderly were meaning when we playing bingo or what the other workers needed me to do while we were handing out snacks to the elderly. Listening helps me to interpret the meaning behind the words that are being spoken. If I was a good listener, I would have others to repeat what they are saying and that is not the most polite thing to do. So if I can do anything correct while volunteering is to listen to the best abilities.
So from here, Luke and I have many more trips to C.A.S.I. before we can call this project done. I will use the concept that I have outlined here more properly than what I what try now. I cannot wait to visit the elderly I had talked to and began to form friendships with. Especially the troublemaker Don.
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