CLC 12 - Final Capstone Proposal and Reflection

Name: Kaitlyn
Topic: Seniors
Focus Area: Volunteer
Inquiry Question: Can social recreational interaction with seniors improve their emotional
wellbeing in a retirement home?
Presentation Method: PowerPoint
Presentation Time & Date: Jan 12, 2.20- 2.40

1) Capstone Project Summary:

In the box below, please type out a 200 – 300-word summary highlighting the key points and
information that you plan to present during your Capstone Project presentation.

I hope to present how I learned through this whole process including the good and bad and the learning
experience out of it. I plan to present the way seniors DO Matter and their personal stories that they share
with me because few residents open up and so when they open to me, I feel like I belong there and feel
like family to me. I would mention that having a place to go after school is a safe place and being
vulnerable to the seniors that some might not understand what you are talking about but will be on your
side. For example, it is like going to a youth group with friends and connecting with people, but it is a
senior place instead of a youth group. I would also talk about how seniors need to be physically active to
prevent health issues such as dementia. I would also talk about how just being present with the seniors
makes their day 100 percent better and understanding the challenges that older people face when I am
still a teenager (almost adult).

2) Core Competencies:
In the boxes below, explain how your project or the work we’ve done in CLC 12 Class demonstrates
your abilities and skills from each section of the Core Competencies. (You must choose at least two
points from each skill area of the core competencies.) *This was also done in your Capstone Draft
Proposal, so if the skills and abilities still apply and have not changed, then you can copy and paste
your answers in the Final Capstone Proposal*

Good work in this section Kaitlyn, but you need to tie your Capstone (or CLC experience) into each of
the Core Competencies. Please add how you demonstrated the final three core competencies.
Core Competency: How you demonstrate it in Capstone Project:
Personal Awareness & “I can express my needs and seek help when needed “
Responsibility During this assignment, I have realized that asking for help within this
project is perfectly fine to reach out to your mentor. For example, the
time I needed help was when a resident (named betty) was giving me a
tough time because she wanted me to accept the money that she gave
to me. I told her I don’t want your money; you keep it, and she got upset
about that, so I told one of her care aids that and I took her money in the
end but gave it back to the care aids.
Social Responsibility “I have positive peer and intergenerational relationships”

This connects to my project because volunteering made me more

empathic and understanding towards the challenges that seniors face. I
also learned that having a positive difference in someone's life is
 extremely useful in this society nowadays. It gave me a sense of purpose
and excitement, knowing that I can just brighten someone's day up with
my personality.
Critical Thinking “I can ask good quality questions, gather relevant information, and come
up with well- developed conclusions”

This connects to my project because I have asked my mentor for

personal information about each resident, and I know what their
strengths are and their weaknesses and how I can help them. From there
I know what each resident needs and how to adapt to some residents.
Creative Thinking “I can take my ideas evaluate, develop, and refine them and make
something productive out of them”

During my capstone project, when I interacted with the residents, I had

the adventure of knowing what their needs were. When a resident
struggled at putting a chip on the bingo board, I had to adapt and
evaluate what I was going to say and how to make them not to give up
easily and encouraging them that they can do it.
I picked “I can reflect on the process of learning and share what I have
learned”

During my capstone project, I have been telling people including close

teachers I have this semester who know I am volunteering and learning a
lot. Example: When I am at the care home, I am constantly learning new
things each day and knowing more about myself and improving on
myself. Each Resident is different, so you must adapt to each person you
meet and interact with.
Personal & Cultural Identity “I understand what is important to me”
I picked this one because I have realized through this whole project that
being active your whole life and being social can prevent you from
diseases such as arthritis, dementia, and Lewy body dementia. I also
learned that it is important to have a proper diet because when you
don’t eat healthy, you lack vitamins, skin, and energy. Which reflects
daily on the seniors because some do go to the senior home to get the
proper nutrients and to look after themselves and more social
interactions.

3) Presentation preparation:
In the boxes below, answer the following questions: What will you require from your teacher, what will
you need to bring and what still needs to be completed between now and your Capstone presentation
day?
a) What will you require from your teacher in order to do your Capstone presentation? (Ex: Laptop,
table, poster paper, projector, etc....)
laptop

b) What will you need to bring in order to do your Capstone presentation?

I would need to borrow a computer to present my PowerPoint

c) What still needs to be completed between now and your Capstone presentation day?

I need a few more hours left because I haven’t done the 40hours yet. I would also have to start my
PowerPoint on it and to take tiny snapshots with the residents of what they are doing.

4) References and explanation of sources:

Please paste all your current list of sources along with a brief explanation of what you used them for in
your research. All these sources should also be listed on your website on your References page.

I have been talking to my mentor who has helped me a lot with this entire process including volunteering.
My Mentor Michelle has talked to me every day to check in on things and tells me about each resident and
what their needs are. At the long-term center I have each resident who is on the center in my head because
I have read a book about things that they like and what they like to do and their story before going into the
home.

Final Capstone Project Reflection Questions

(Please give specific detailed answers.)

1. In the process of completing your Capstone Project, what did you learn about your subject? What did
you learn about your skill set? What did you learn about yourself?
I learned that spending time with seniors boosts your energy interacting with them as well talking to them. I
used to think that going to a senior place is where your death bed is, but it is nothing like that all. I learned
that volunteering my time and energy towards them gave me a purpose to help others. It’s a wonderful
feeling that helped me grow as a person and I genuinely appreciate the joy of making a positive impact on
someone’s life. I would not be who I am if I didn’t get the experience because my whole perception has
changed.
2. How is your project relevant to you? How is it relevant to the school? How is it relevant to the
community?
This project is so relevant to me because my grandma goes to the same care home (Magnolia Gardens), and it
hints home because she has dementia and mostly all residents have it but it's one of the things that makes me
happy at the end of the day. It is relevant to the school because for my capstone I have to do this thing that
connects to the school. It is relevant to my community because I am volunteering in my community and
helping people.

3. What impact did your Capstone have on you?

The impact on the Care Home has been so excellent that I love to go there, especially the long-term side that
will always have a special place in my heart. Volunteering at a senior place had a significant impact on me. It
made me appreciate the wisdom and stories older people share. It reminded me of the importance of
compassion towards others.
4. What aspects of your project are you most proud of?
5. I'm most proud of getting out of my comfort zone, I often get from my mentor it takes a real kiddo to
just go up to the seniors and talk to them. My mentor always says that to me and that she is so proud
of me. My mentor has given me the opportunity to offer me a job to help her out with the activities. I
am also proud of getting the opportunity to do this because not many people have the patience for the
residents or people say it is lame to do it.

6. What was a difficulty you encountered while researching your Capstone project? How were you able to
overcome those obstacles?

The only difficulty I encountered was finding ways to adapt to myself to find the best ways to connect to the
seniors. While I was researching, many cites said many different things, so it all came down to me
acknowledging what they were saying. For example, when an article said to play games with the seniors. Some
seniors cannot use their hands anymore or cannot even sing so they get very emotional. I find ways for all
residents and their needs to do whatever they need to adapt.

7. What is the one thing you would have changed about your project if you could?
I would change to start my project earlier because I'm running out of time. I should have prioritized this
project at the beginning of the year.

8. What advice would you offer to future Capstone students to help them with their Capstone journey?
I would tell them to start early so you don’t have to push it at the last minute.