All you need is love
Posted on March 13, 2008
Vinod Narayan learned that playing hide-and-seek is fun for any age, even for a 91-year-old Alzheimer’s patient. Though the man may be slower and have problems remembering who Narayan is each week, he still knows what makes him happy.
Narayan, a sophomore political science major, is a volunteer in the Caregivers Community Network, a respite program for caregivers. Through the Nursing 313 elective course, students spend several hours each week with elderly patients.
“Many times the caregivers are feeling isolated, and they don’t know what’s available for them,” said Vickie Landes, program director of CCN. “The caregivers bank their resources and try to wait until they really need help. But the rainy day is actually here for many of them, and it’s hard to recognize it.”
The program has grown since it began with a grant proposal from the nursing department. There have been up to 60 students participating at one time; currently 43 are involved.
Through an initial training session, volunteers learn about Alzheimer’s, communicating with the elderly and respite care. They then meet the patient and his or her primary caregiver and write a reflection report after each visit to receive a course credit.
“When you’re 70 and looking for assistance with your 68-year-old wife, JMU isn’t a likely place to look for help,” Landes said. “But it’s actually the perfect place. We’ve really learned how the caregivers and clients would embrace students. We thought they would, but to what level, we didn’t know, and we’re very impressed with the response.
“It’s appealing to think about how someone can come in and provide activities for your loved ones. Students have such an energy too that is amazing.”
Activities include anything from baking together, to listening or playing music, to just talking and listening. Landes said that hand and foot massages, as well as painting fingernails, are also popular activities. Supply kits are available for students to use during the visits.
“The little old ladies love talking, and giving out advice on love lives, and seeing pictures of boyfriends,” Landes said.
Whitney Gee, a senior nursing major, formally volunteered with CCN last year. She spent time with a woman in her 70s who had Alzheimer’s. She formed a close relationship with the woman and her husband throughout the year and called them her family away from home. However, near Spring Break, the woman passed away.
“[Gee’s] client refers to her as his adopted daughter, and they just formed such a bond together,” Landes said. “She was there with the caregiver at the hospital while his wife, the patient she cared for, was dying. Whitney was just such a blessing, and is exceptional.”
Kathleen Pantaleo, the program assistant, emphasized the importance of learning outside the classroom through CCN.
“That’s the hallmark of this whole thing,” she said. “Instead of reading, they’re actually doing it.”
Gee agreed that hands on experience is irreplaceable.
“This is a way to truly learn nursing,” she said. “Hands-on is the best way, and you get one-on-one experience with patients. I’ll really cherish this time. It’s amazing I’ve had this opportunity so early in my career.”
She continues to meet with her patient’s husband, who she calls her adopted grandfather, as well as two other ladies from the nursing home.
“We have fun together,” she said. “He came over a few weeks ago for a birthday dinner. I got my roommates involved too, so it was something fun and different to do on a Friday evening.”
Sophomore health sciences major Jackie Kurecki said the class has been a life-changing elective. Through meeting with her client twice a week, Kurecki found a role model.
“She has taught me wisdom and through her life experiences I have also grown,” she said. “She loves having company and most our time during the visits are spent discussing world issues and life in general. It is fascinating hearing her opinions and her philosophies on life.”
Kurecki’s ultimate career goal is to become a registered nurse, and believes CCN has taught her more about that choice.
“The role of a nurse goes beyond just working twelve-hour days a few days out of the week on a rotation shift,” she said. “You are constantly helping others in every way possible. You make a difference in the lives of everyone you interact with on a daily basis.”
Volunteers do not need to have an interest specifically in gerontology, but just in giving back to the community.
“I just wanted to do more,” Narayan said after his previous volunteer experiences. “I heard about this class, and I actually feel bad that it’s for a credit.”
Though Narayan has to reintroduce himself at each visit to his patient, he said he loves spending time together. Recently, they began a new weekly tradition of Narayan bringing vanilla ice cream, one of his patient’s favorite foods.
“Because he’s happy, I’m happy,” Narayan said. “This has enriched my life because I’ve learned more about people, and about myself. My mom was surprised to see this ‘caring’ side of me, but I plan to volunteer for the rest of my life.”
Landes and Pantaleo said they are impressed with the community and student response to CCN.
“I’m looking at this program with new eyes, and have only been here a few months, and I’m just blown away,” Pantaleo said. “The students are top notch. They’re exceptional. I never knew that people this age could work with the elderly like this.”
