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Few things brighten the days of infirm nursing home residents than contact with young people. I learned that as I cared for my elderly grandmother when I was sixteen. When your teen learns about the benefits of making this type of impact on the world, it will be a truly a valuable education.

Realities of life

One of the liabilities of the young (so I am often told by my elders) is that I don't appreciate my youth while I have it. It goes so fast, they say, as they try to add their perspectives to mine at a time in life when it would do me some good. Volunteering at a nursing home, teens will learn the transitory nature of youth and health while they have the best chance of benefiting from them. They will learn perhaps some of the mistakes in planning that resulted in life's difficult situations, such as decisions to squander finances, abuse the body with cigarettes or obesity, or neglect relationships.

Most importantly, nursing home volunteers will learn that many of the realities of life and death are not exactly pretty. Teens and young people are resilient and adjust to different environments well - if they learn these types of things when they are young rather than later when they are less able to adjust, it could very well positively impact their psychological health throughout their lives.

People skills

Not all of the experiences that a teen encounters in a nursing home will be gushingly positive or immediately rewarding. Understandably so, some of the patients will be high on discomfort and low on hope - making some of them likely to be grouchy and demanding. But learning how to handle those who have given up on being at all easy to deal with will be a challenge that will equal few others in difficulty. In addition to the compassion and good nature that they will need to handle these difficult situations, teens' experience in a nursing home will result in the self confidence that they have survived the some fairly difficult days and are ready for anything.

Dependability

All regular responsibilities teach young people the importance of regularly meeting obligations. The ability to show up every day on time and carry out the basic functions of a position will be the main aspects that make win the confidence of those superiors that might give future recommendations. But beyond that, in the nursing home situation, there are extra demands on a volunteer to learn to be reliable. Many patients live for the few and small pleasures and mercies afforded to them - being taken to meals, being given medication, being propped up in bed to watch TV. When these things aren't done according to schedule it can make a big impact in the quality of life. Teens will have this immediate feedback to constantly reinforce their growing capabilities to regularly meet their obligations in a way that few other opportunities provide.

Conclusion

In sum, nursing home experience can be positive for teens and the people they are helping, and in the process they will learn many things that will help them in later employment and later in their own lives. I saw this clearly in my own youth visits and in the experiences of my children now as they are starting visit local senior centers. The things that they learn can have a big impact on the world, and one that might hit surprisingly close to home. After all, they may be caring for you one day.

Learn more about this author, Carol H. Morgan.
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