Intergenerational and Technology Intern | Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin, OH
This position is part of the Friends Services Alliance (FSA) Internship program and will be held at Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin, OH.
Overview:
Kendal at Oberlin is pleased to have the opportunity to offer an eight-week internship for the summer of 2024. The student is offered an opportunity to work with key staff on two significant projects underway at this time.
Kendal at Oberlin is a Life Plan Community founded on Quaker Values. It celebrated its 30th anniversary in the Fall of 2023. Kendal at Oberlin is one of 11 not-for-profit affiliates of the Kendal System, a nationally recognized family of life plan communities and services for seniors guided by its Values & Practices designed to create conditions that foster independence, well-being, security and fulfillment in later years. Kendal at Oberlin has been an innovator in introducing new programs such as Kendal at Home, now serving older adults across Ohio and beyond. Kendal also provides home and community-based services in the larger community through a partnership with Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice. Through such partnerships, Kendal is committed to a system-wide effort: “Together, transforming the experience of aging.®”
Kendal on Oberlin’s campus features 225 Independent Living cottages/apartments; 55 Assisted Living private rooms; a 12-bed memory support unit; and a 12-bed Medicare-Skilled nursing unit; an out-patient therapy department providing physical, occupational and speech therapy to residents; a Licensed Home Health Care Agency (Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice), and an extensive offering of health and wellness services. Kendal has finalized the details of their strategic plan that will take them to the year 2025. Kendal at Oberlin is home to about 350 residents who have come from 38 States across the U.S. It upholds the highest of standards for life plan retirement communities and has been accredited under the CARF-CCAC since 1997.
Kendal Early Learning Center (KELC) is a leader in person-centered intergenerational programming in Ohio for the children of Kendal at Oberlin staff members and families from the surrounding community.
KELC will unite generations with relationships that have lasting positive effects on the lives of the children and residents. This will be accomplished using an educational curriculum focusing on the needs and interests of each child and on the interests and talents of each resident according to Kendal’s person-centered philosophy. KELC will maintain an environment that is aligned to NAEYC’s quality benchmarks and adheres to our mission to develop fiscal viability through community and philanthropic resources.
It is our mission at KELC to provide the families of on-site employees and families from the surrounding community with a high-quality educational program founded on Kendal’s Quaker-based Values and Practices, which provides the following: a written, evidence-based comprehensive curriculum; diverse enrollment of all income levels from the local community; safe, secure environment in an intergenerational setting; and trained, experienced teaching staff.
Our unique intergenerational program combined with the creative curriculum provides a balanced approach for young children to learn and grow. We provide programming for preschool children and we currently have openings available.
Accommodations
The site of the internship is a 100+ acre campus in a beautiful natural setting with lawns, woodlands, walking/biking paths as well as scenery for many outdoor activities. Kendal at Oberlin will offer housing on site in one of our existing guest or cottage accommodations. Kendal at Oberlin is located a short walk from the center of Oberlin, well-known for its small-town ambience and important cultural and academic traditions.
Position Summary:
Goal: To assist the Creative Arts Therapy Department and Early Learning Center with implementing a program design for using technology to enhance intergenerational interactions between our pre-school learners and our Stephens Care Center adults. In addition to learning how the intergenerational program we offer benefits our community as a whole.
Kendal at Oberlin is looking for an energetic student who wishes to work in long-term care, has a basic understanding of dementia/cognitive loss, and has skills with technology. This internship brings the opportunity to work closely with the interdisciplinary team that includes the Early Learning Center teachers, music therapist, art therapist, social services, nursing, nutrition/dietetics, administration and physicians.
The intern’s eight weeks will be split between working closely with Early Learning Center and the Creative Arts Therapy Department. The student will help implement a program around our newly acquired Tovertafel, and our LinkedSenior digital platform. Tovertafel ("Magic Table") is a games console designed for use in healthcare settings. There are variants for various target groups, including people with dementia, people with an intellectual disability and children with a developmental disorder. See: https://www.tover.care/us/
Kendal would like to utilize this new device for intergenerational opportunities as well as one on one engagement with some of our older adults.
In addition to developing and implementing a Tovertafel program, the student would be trained in how to use our current LinkedSenior digital platform to engage residents in small groups and one on one settings.
Learning Objectives:
- The intern will be able verbalize how digital platforms can enhance engagement between pre- school age children and older adults in a long-term care setting.
- The intern will be able to learn and observe the benefits of Intergenerational experiences both to older adults and children.
- The intern will use their knowledge around technology to engage residents in purposeful activities.
- The intern will be trained on the current digital platform, LinkedSenior, and create a training program for volunteers and families so they can use the platform independently with residents.
- The intern will establish relationships with residents to engage in meaningful interactions.
- The intern will be able to take responsibility for program implementation, documentation of results, and writing up weekly reports.
- The intern will participate in team planning to meet technology program objectives.
- The intern will aid in design, development, and coaching other team members to assure the program continuation after the intern has left Kendal.
Apply here.
Why Intern in Aging Services?
Get experience in one of the fastest growing career sectors! The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060. Aging Services organizations have many positions including management, marketing, social work, and IT. Friend Services Alliance (FSA) has ten positions available at organizations located in PA, MD and OH. Over the past 11 years, we have placed more than 50 interns in several different FSA member locations. Many of these students had not considered working in the senior living field prior to their internship.
Having – or being – an intern can be a life-changing experience. Read some success stories:
- Experiences of our past interns.
-Internships can lead to a fulfilling career change.
- Resident life can benefit from FSA interns.
As part of an initiative seeking to identify and develop the next generation of leaders, FSA has partnered with Friends Foundation for the Aging to create an internship program for students at who wish to learn about working in the field of aging services. Accepted students experience organizational life within an FSA member organization for two months during the summer. Each intern will have an onsite preceptor to ensure their success. That host will have experience in the field which will give the opportunity for the student to learn directly from a mentor. Interns have worked in several different departments, including Administration, Human Resources, Social Work and Dining Services.
Interns must receive academic credit for their experience and be supported by a faculty member of their educational institution in establishing academic goals for the project. Each intern will be supervised by an experienced onsite manager who will assist with learning goals.
Interns are provided:
- Preceptor/Host Onsite
- Possibility of a $500/month stipend (2 months). Dates are flexible and arranged with the host site.
- Reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for the initial trip to and the return trip from the host site.