Alli's Internship

Tomorrow is my last full day at my internship, the time flys. Monday I am working 9-12 and I can't believe that will be my last day. As an intern your not always sure what it's going to be like when you first walk in and meet all the residents and staff but after a while they become a part of you can you become connect to each and every one of them. I truly loved interning at this rehab and nursing facility and would do it all over again if I could. Now its on to the case studies of the residents that I worked with. Thanks to everyone who has read my blogging bits and I hope you got something out of my expierence as an intern, I know I did.

Alli's Internship

It seems like just yesterday I was calling facilities, hospitals, and anywhere else I could find a CTRS looking for a place to do my internship and now only a week left until it's over. The time does fly when you are doing something you love it's true. I have learned so much from this experience more than I ever thought I would. I feel like I have left my mark at this facility by doing the TTAP Method week to week and bring them something to look forward too and well as helping them. One of the residents has Alzheimer's and the other has had a stroke and also has Crohn's disease, I have watched them grow week to week with the TTAP Method. From their attitudes becoming more optimistic and wanting to leave their rooms to actually come to my program, and also in many other ways. I will be keeping you posted on their final responses and my final days as well. This is truly a rewarding field.

Alli's Internship

This week I did the TTAP Method and I did my final session. I did sculpture as my final session. They each took the clay and molded a sculpture of their hand. They than painted them and talked about the journeys in life that helped mold us into what we are today. Also I wrote their names on paper and with the letters in their names they had to choose adjectives that best described them. If there is one thing that I could say about the TTAP Method it is how it impacts the residents. The first week they were skeptical about the group and now they are waiting for me sitting in our TTAP area where our group takes place every week and they loved it. Even when they were sick they would tell the nurses to ask if we could move the session to another day so they wouldn't miss anything. I think that they have learned and gained knowledge about themselves. The TTAP Method is something that I believe everyone should get to experience. In the nursing facility having a group besides bingo that people look forward to is such an accomplishment in itself. I will be posting pictures soon, and I will keep you updated on my final weeks of my internship.

Alli's Internship

Sorry for being a little behind but recently at my internship I had to experience a two year old passing away. This was very unexpected and something I never thought I would have to deal with during my internship. I have experienced people in the geriatric population passing away but that was different for me because they were older and some of them knew that it was their time to go. This on the other hand was not like that he was only two years old. His family came today and picked up his stuff from his room. He had been at the facility since he was nine months. It was very emotional for me, I can't even explain it. He was the second resident I met the very first day of my internship and I will never forget the way he looked at me with his big beautiful eyes and smiled right at me. I have to say that this was definitely something that I will never forget and I am glad in a way that I got to experience this as an intern because it better prepares me for what my future will hold as a recreational therapist. I feel like it's a stepping stone in my journey to becoming a recreational therapist and it's true that you learn more than you could ever imagine during your internship.
Wednesday I will be doing my last session of the TTAP Method which make me both excited and nervous. I can't believe I am in the home stretch! More to come on Wednesday!

Alli's Internship

Today we had a busy day. Time went by so quickly, this morning we did a spring time craft with all the residents that we are going to hang-up in their rooms. Some residents made flowers and butterflies and the boys made baseball card cut-outs. I was on second floor today which is twenty one and up to about thirty through thirty-five. They had a great time doing it and they get so much satisfaction from making something that they get to put in their rooms, they get that sense of accomplishment. Than we listened to soft music as we got them ready for lunch. Than for me it was off to school. For Wednesday when I do the TTAP Method next I am doing poetry books and writing. I am going to have them make their own books and write something inside the books that they made. It doesn't have to be a poem or story it can be a single word. Its amazing how one word can trigger a memory that leads to more memories. I can't wait to hear their stories. In my experience with the TTAP Method this is one of the most responsive steps, the stories from when the residents were younger are really amazing that is why I really can't wait to hear from the residents.

Alli's Internship

Yesterday I was delayed at the airport coming back from my trip from New Orleans and it took seven hours longer than from when our flight was supposed to leave so unfortunately I was unable to make it to my internship. But here are some photos from throughout the 7 weeks at my internship so far that I have been doing the TTAP Method. I would like to share them with you and see what you think, here there are!

MEMORY BOXES










MASKS






PHOTO THERAPY



THEMED EVENT: VALENTINE'S DAY





PAINTING,DRAWING, & THEMED EVENT VACATION









Only two more weeks of the TTAP Method left and about a month left of my internship but more to come so I will keep you posted!