During the last part of my internship, I feel that I have gained so much knowledge and have come to love the work environment of Commonwealth Senior Living. I have continued to work the front desk to fill in when the main concierge needs to take off. The daily tasks of that job are becoming easier. I still have questions, but everyone is always willing to help.
The company’s decision to schedule meetings with its leadership, such as the CEO, VP of HR, COO, etc., was a valuable opportunity. These meetings have been very insightful; accessing these leaders and asking them questions was a privilege. Hearing about the other interns’ experiences was also exciting because while we are all a part of Commonwealth Senior Living, we have different experiences.
I gained a well-rounded understanding of assisted living during my internship by working in multiple departments. Shadowing the Executive Director was interesting, but witnessing the process of handling abuse allegations was overwhelming. I learned that residents in memory care prefer routine, while assisted living residents need more frequent and interactive activities. However, I realized that activity coordination is not an area that particularly interests me.
I also learned about the organization’s dining area during this time. The dining director walked me through her process of ensuring that she never goes over budget, how she orders products, and how she ensures that her staff and kitchen run efficiently. I walked through the process of prepping for lunchtime, which included folding napkins, setting tables, preparing desserts, serving meals, bussing tables, and preparing the dining area for dinner. I would be open to helping in this area if they needed assistance.
I completed my overall project for this internship, which was to review all resident files. There were many discrepancies, and I suggested that something should be in place to ensure communication between administration and nursing so that these files are not insufficient.
What I enjoyed most about this internship was the relationships I developed with staff and residents. I was surprised by my ability to connect with people in this manner because I did not expect to enjoy this internship as much as I did. I feel that I am making a difference for some of these people.
While I did enjoy my internship, there were things that I think could have been better. I understand that there may have been limitations in allowing me to participate in certain experiences, such as handling HR concerns. There were many while I was here, but I wasn’t allowed to participate in any of them. That would have been beneficial, but I understand how that could have been challenging.
I am pleased to share that I have been offered a PRN position, which involves front desk duties and external business activities, both of which I have been trained for during my internship. I am excited about the prospect of continuing my journey with Commonwealth Senior Living and exploring the opportunities this career path can offer.
