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Photo permission given by: Passavant Community
Lutheran Senior Retirement Home
Imagine if you were unable to complete basic everyday tasks on your own. Each day, you would seek the assistance of another person with simple tasks such as changing your clothes instead of being independent. On Friday, October 29th, my cohort of Health Assistant juniors and seniors had our first clinical day at Passavant Lutheran SeniorLife in Zelienople, PA. We will be traveling to the retirement community four times a month.
Our purpose? To assist residents with their activities of daily living.
“On this first visit, our students behaved so professionally,” beamed instructor, Mrs. O’Donnell, RN. “It was such a rewarding day at this beautiful facility.”
We walked into the home expecting the typical dimly lit, narrow hallways like we’ve seen in other facilities; however, it was way better than we could have imagined! This facility could be described as palace-like; they soon realized what a joy it will be to help here every other week! Lutheran SeniorLife in Zelienople, PA has a gym, an ice cream shop, a barbershop, a garden and so much more! The Lutheran provides a better life for people with physical difficulties. “This place has a lot more to offer residents,” commented junior Harley Barnwell, “so they feel as if they are home.”
The dining room has a wonderful view! As for dinner, we all got to talk about what we loved about it so far! It gave us a chance to calm down and just relax; there was so much to take in here at the center.
During our tour, we found that the guides and the nurses did a wonderful job helping the residents! These health-care providers have such warm hearts and treated the residents with dignity -- as if they were members of the family! The residents have their own rooms, have all they need, and have a second loving family! Each has a place to store precious treasures and other knick-knacks so he or she can feel closer to home!
Lutheran was a stunning place that offers freedom with a great view! The staff seems to live by Confucius’ quote, “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” The guides were very sweet ladies who had taken the time to welcome us into what felt like their home! Many Nurse Aides who worked there showed us the tasks they do and explain new techniques used!
The residents were happy to have us visit; those smiles just makes me want to keep going back for more time with these wonderful people!
Going the Lutheran has opened all of our eyes and gives us a better understanding of what good can happen in a nursing home. Visiting there solidified my desire to work in the healthcare industry; I know that my friends and I can’t wait to earn our Certified Nurses Assistant certificates! I am so thankful to have such a great teachers see the importance of taking us to places like The Lutheran, and I am thankful for the residents for filling my heart with joy.
At the end of the day, we said our goodbyes to the residents and hello to our future!
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Photo permission given by: Passavant Community
Lutheran Senior Retirement Home
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Tomiann McCowin, a junior Health Assistant, plays softball and loves driving around and being with friends. She works at Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe in Ellwood City. In 2019, she will graduate and continue on to college for Nursing!
