The success of SOAR365’s Adult Day Support is sustained by a skilled staff, engaged volunteers, and participants who join in a wide variety of activities and special events. Beginning this year, a new group has made an important contribution to the Adult Day Support success story.
Each week, nursing students from Randolph-Macon College visit Saunders to work directly with Adult Day Support participants. The students promote well-being with activities that improve movement, engage the mind, and encourage healthy eating habits.
Meredith McGuire, MSN, RN, CPNP is the Clinical Assistant Professor in the RMC Department of Nursing. She is excited about the benefits this new internship program creates for her students and Adult Day Support participants.
“The Randolph-Macon nursing program develops resilient nurse leaders prepared to practice innovatively in a dynamic healthcare environment,” she explained. “The nursing students at SOAR365 are juniors or seniors who apply clinical prevention approaches and health promotion activities to provide effective nursing care to adults with disabilities.”
Meredith says her students have benefitted in many ways by working with Adult Day Support participants. “They are using assessment skills during every interaction. Students are finding that they are better able to communicate each week as their comfort increases. Interviewing to gain understanding of those in your care is a very important nursing skill, and it has been powerful to watch students improve in this area.”
Regular interaction with Adult Day Support participants helps students understand the day-to-day experiences of those living with disabilities. This experience fosters deeper emotional connection and builds empathy. The RMC nursing students also learn to be creative in how they design and implement health promotion interventions.
“This partnership is a win-win!” says Meredith. “The students are learning and growing, and they love seeing the participants on Fridays!”
“The RMC team has been truly wonderful volunteers in our Adult Day Support program. They’re enthusiastically engaged, and we really look forward to seeing them each week. It’s so much fun to watch the relationships between our participants and the students grow. We love having them join us!” says Tricia Puryear, VP of Human Services.
Meredith says this partnership has enriched her life as well. “I have been a nurse for over 30 years and worked with children for most of my career. This experience is new for me. It has opened my eyes and my understanding of adults living with disabilities, especially as they age.”
“The staff at SOAR365 is incredible! Despite their challenging job, the staff is always welcoming and accommodating with the clinical prevention and health promotion activities that students plan each week for participants. Their support has been so beneficial in helping build each student’s confidence.”
Interested in volunteering with our program participants? We welcome both groups and individual volunteers! Visit soar365.org or contact Liz Harris, Manager of Volunteer Engagement, at (804) 665-1210 or [email protected].
Want to support us behind the scenes? We have lots of great volunteer opportunities and internships to suit your talents. From gardening and painting to marketing and fundraising, you can help us fulfill our mission. Contact us today to learn more!