BEDFORD – Students with the North Lawrence Career Center Health Sciences class were able to interact with residents at Autumn Trace Bedford Assisted Living to work with some of the residents in a hands-on approach to learning Thursday afternoon.
Autumn Trace Executive Director Timber Browning welcomed the group and provided them the opportunity to work with each resident, doing what they wanted to do.
“The students were able to come by on Tuesday to meet with some of the residents and come up with some of the activities that are going on here today,” said Browning. “They tailored all of this to what the residents like. It has been good partnering with the students, cause this is their future.
Working with the residents not only benefits them, but also the students who are excited to learn about the Health Care field by providing the simple service of time.
“This helps their memory, by having a captive audience who wants to listen to them and learn from them is what this is able to provide. It helps them feel purposeful again and it is proving to be great for both the residents and the students,” Browning concluded.
The groups were spread out making cookies, playing bingo, making bracelets, knitting, painting, or even watching football as they interacted with the residents.
North Lawrence Career Center Health Science Instructor Arienne Evans said giving the students a meaningful opportunity to learn is what sparked this work.
“Things are starting to open back up this year following COIVD-19 restrictions, so we are able to come out and learn hands-on with some elders in our community, and provide them with the care they need,” said Evans. “Autumn Trace provides a great way to introduce the kids to a healthcare setting, instead of just dropping them in a care facility where they actually have to do the tough work like changing, cleaning and maintaining individuals. This way they can still learn the other side of care, to continue to peak their interests.”
Cydnee Rayhill-Wright, a Senior at Bedford North Lawrence, is excited to continue to grow within the field of Health Sciences, saying it was something she grew up with.
“I am in the work-based learning course Health Science III where I am employed by Autumn Trace while earning credits for school,” said Cydnee. “I grew up around this world with my mother being a nurse so I knew I wanted to pursue it too. I didn’t anticipate enjoying this side of the field in working with the elderly, but it has become one of the best parts of the course.”
Working on bettering themselves, Cydnee said that this event wasn’t just about the students, but about the residents as well.
“One of the residents said the other day that after the students had come in the Tuesday before, she said I changed their lives forever. And that made me tear up. We put a lot of effort into working with these residents, and they in turn are a great part of our lives by providing us with new experiences,” Cydnee concluded.
