Creative Activities Give SOAR365 Participants Real-World Experience
At SOAR365, a mix of fresh, creative activities help Adult Day Support participants develop life skills, independence, and meaningful connections. By combining participant input with staff creativity, many of their ideas come to life, including several that provide important real-world experience.
The Sunshine Store: A True-To-Life Shopping Experience
A bright little shop designed to turn participants into decision-makers, the Sunshine Store provides lessons on how to interact with new people and the value of the dollar. Participants earn “SOAR Bucks” by completing their daily tasks and then use their hard-earned money to purchase items such as snacks, books, and personal care products from the store, which operates weekly. Participants also contribute ideas on what items to stock, ensuring that the store has something for everyone.
This hands-on learning experience emphasizes the importance of saving your money and making smart purchasing decisions. This helps participants prepare for their visits to actual businesses, setting the table for success today and in the future.
Never Too Late to See New Places
Not everything can be accomplished within the walls of SOAR365’s buildings. To put what participants learn into action, the Adult Day Support program regularly ventures out into the community.
Whether it’s a trip to the Richmond Zoo, visiting Crump Park, or riding the Amtrak train to Ashland, each outing serves as a chance for participants to practice their communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills in a new environment.
Input from both the participants and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) is encouraged to plan each trip, providing valuable opportunities to practice social etiquette and share their feelings without hurting anyone else’s.
Once everyone is on the road, skills learned during activities like the Sunshine Store are on full display. Each new experience builds upon the last, taking special care to make sure that each one is not just an adventure, but a meaningful opportunity to learn, grow, and connect in the real world.
Fighting White Coat Syndrome
For SOAR365’s program participants, White Coat Syndrome (WCS) can be common. A condition where fear and anxiety can cause elevated blood pressure while in a doctor’s office or hospital, WCS affects many and is often caused by simply not knowing what to expect.
To help our participants better understand the role of doctors in our lives and what to expect during an appointment, nursing students from Bon Secours Memorial College volunteered their time and knowledge with Adult Day Support.
The nursing students led interactive sessions that covered topics such as how to prepare for doctor’s visits, what to expect during physical exams, and how to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals. Roleplaying each of these common interactions at a doctor’s office helped to ease anxiety around it all.
“Throughout my time volunteering, I had the privilege of leading daily lessons and building meaningful friendships with participants. This experience not only enhanced my understanding of disability services but also provided me with invaluable life lessons,” said Mia Jones, Student at Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing.