Initial Reflection - Kalee

The Best Friends Day Center is an incredible organization that four of my classmates and I are going to get the opportunity to volunteer with over the next semester. Best Friends is an organization that is operated by the Christian Care Communities in Kentucky for people with early to late stages of dementia.

Dementia is a mental disorder that can have effects on memory, personality, and reasoning skills of its victims. According to the World Health Organization, it affects over 47 million people around the world. Alzheimer's is the most commonly known form of dementia and effects around 5.3 million of Americans today. 5.1 million of these Americans are considered senior citizens.

When my group and I went to visit the center for our orientation program, we actually got to have some time with the participants in the program. When the large group of students walked into the room, it was so sweet to see how their faces lit up at the sight of all of the new visitors. Though they are getting the chance to interact with each other throughout the day, it is so important for them to get to interact with us as well.

During the orientation, we found out what kind of help we would be to the program. Each day we visit, we will be able to come in a spend time with a different individual. Everyone at Best Friends has a page full of information about them that we can read over before getting the chance to talk to them. As Ms. Harkless, an employee at the center, talked to us about these binders, she told us just a few examples of the incredible stories that some of their participants had to share with us.

While watching the Miss America competition just this past week, I watched Miss Colorado perform a very unique talent for the talent portion - a monologue. In this monologue, she talks about what it is like to be a nurse; she speaks of one patient in particular. Miss Colorado, Kelley, talks about one of her favorite patients, Joe. Joe is a man with Alzheimer's that Kelley gets the opportunity to spend time with talking to every day.

Even though Kelley goes on to talk about what it means to her to be a nurse, I got something from this video as well. She shares a personal experience that she has gotten to have with one of her patients with dementia. After hearing her talk about the great life conversations and all of the things she learned from her patient Joe, I am excited to see what experiences and knowledge awaits us by volunteering with the participants at the Best Friends Day Center.

- Kalee Fuller

Best Friends

         I, along with the others in my service learning group, am very excited to be volunteering at the Best Friends Day Center. Best Friends is an center that houses assisted living residents during the day that have dementia ranging from early to late stages. Those with dementia experience a decline in their mental capabilities and progressively lose their ability to function normally in their daily lives. When I heard about Best Friends, I knew this was something I've had zero experience with. I chose it because I believe I can learn the most from it.  

We will be playing games with the residents,
much like what is shown in this picture.

         My first impression of Best Friends was that it seemed to have a welcoming atmosphere, as it should. We spent a good part of our time there filling out forms, and once that was over we got to enjoy ice cream that the people there decided to share with us. After we were given all the information about what was expected of us, we then headed into a big room where all the residents were. This room is used for all of their daily activities, and today they were playing a game called "two truths and a lie." While we didn't get to join in on that, we heard that it was a lot of fun. Later on everyone was sitting around in a circle and they were singing songs out of a book. All of the volunteers joined in and we sang with them. Some of the residents there have absolutely beautiful voices, it was a treat to listen to them. I could also tell that they really enjoyed it because we must've sang at least fifteen songs. But it was all enjoyable and the two hours we spent there seemed to fly by. I was surprised when it was actually time to leave.

         Best Friends is the only adult day center in the central Kentucky region that is geared toward dementia care. I spoke with Ms. Harkless, who is one of the people in management there, and I could tell that she takes great pride in the work she does for these people. She took a lot of time making sure that we understood that we were there to give our time to the residents. We dedicate our time to giving the residents a positive daily experience. I look forward to regularly going back and getting to know the people there. I think I will enjoy the activities and games that they have. More importantly, I think that I will learn a lot from my time spent here with these great people. 

-Cassadi