Jack Jorgensen
Responsibilities
- During my internship with Western Home Communities and the Thrivera Wellness program, I assisted older adults with improving their overall wellness, balance, and quality of life. My responsibilities included assessing residents’ balance and physical activity needs, helping guide wellness and exercise activities, and supporting individuals in memory care by promoting mental stimulation and engagement for residents with dementia. -In addition, I sat in on meetings related to Fortified Life, the organization’s health and wellness benefits program, where I learned about services available to residents and employees such as healthcare expense coverage, personal training, physical therapy, massages, hair services, and other in-house wellness amenities. - I also helped promote and organize health and wellness events that encouraged residents to become more socially and physically active through activities they enjoyed. These events focused on increasing physical activity levels, reducing fall risks, and improving overall community engagement. - Throughout the internship, I worked closely with staff and residents to encourage socialization, mental activity, and healthier lifestyles while gaining experience in wellness promotion, senior health, and community health programming.
Accomplishments
- My greatest accomplishment during my internship experience was building strong relationships with many of the residents and staff members while making a positive impact on their wellness and daily lives. Through helping lead activities, promoting health events, assisting with balance and wellness programs, and supporting residents socially and physically, I was able to gain the trust of both residents and the organization. - Because of the work I put in during my internship, I was offered a full-time position as a Wellness and Health Coordinator with benefits. Being hired into this role showed me that the organization valued my ability to connect with residents, promote wellness, and contribute positively to the community. It was very rewarding to see my internship turn into a career opportunity where I can continue helping improve the health and quality of life of others.
Learning experience
- One of the greatest lessons I learned from my internship experience was how to effectively communicate and build relationships with residents in memory care who have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. I learned the importance of patience, positive communication, and understanding each resident’s individual needs in order to help keep them mentally stimulated, socially engaged, and physically active. This experience helped me grow both professionally and personally by teaching me how meaningful small interactions and encouragement can be. - Another important lesson I learned was how to handle changes and communication within wellness programs and services, such as updates to Fortified Life rates or wellness-related policies. I learned how important it is to clearly explain processes, benefits, and changes to residents and families while remaining professional and understanding of their concerns. Through these experiences, I realized that while you always want to help people and create positive outcomes, you cannot make everyone happy all of the time. Instead, it is important to communicate honestly, stay patient, and focus on doing what is best for the overall wellbeing of the community.
What advice would you give?
My advice for future students in this major would be to stick with it long enough to truly figure out if it is something you are passionate about. Working in health, wellness, and community programming can be challenging at times, but if it is something you genuinely enjoy, you will find purpose and fulfillment in the work you do every day. Being able to positively impact someone’s health, confidence, or quality of life makes the experience very rewarding. Another important piece of advice is to understand that patience is extremely important when working with people, especially in healthcare and wellness settings. Every individual has different physical, emotional, and mental needs, and learning how to meet people where they are at is a major part of being successful in this field. I would also encourage future students to become comfortable having difficult conversations regarding health and wellness. During my experience, I realized that hard conversations happen more often than not, whether it involves discussing health concerns, lifestyle changes, wellness services, or difficult decisions with residents and families. Learning how to communicate professionally, honestly, and compassionately is one of the most valuable skills you can develop in this career field.