Center in the Park

 

Promoting Positive Aging at Center in the Park!

 

Student Interns:

Oluwatosin Ilori, Temple University School of Pharmacy

Caoilainn McKenna, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Laura Timaran, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

 

Academic Preceptors:

Ingrid Mapanao, MSW, MPH, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Brian Work, MD, MPH, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Jerome Wright, MSW, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

 

Community Preceptor:

Cleo Smalls, MBA, Center Director, Center in the Park

 

Community Site:

Center in the Park is a nonprofit senior wellness center founded in 1968, located in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia. Center in the Park promotes positive aging and fosters community connections for older adults, whose voices are critical instruments in shaping its activities and direction. CIP offers a variety of programs, including free breakfast and lunch, art classes (like knitting, painting, poetry, and pottery), social events (including Bible study, movie times, billiards, and cards), educational programs (such as technology literacy, Spanish, piano, health promotion, and homebuyer workshops), and physical activities (including yoga, line dancing, and SilverSneakers programs). In this way, CIP nurtures all aspects of health: social, financial, physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual.

 

Team’s Experience:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted with various programs, including performing organizational tasks, distributing Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) vouchers, and preparing health education materials on the topics of smoking cessation, cardiovascular health, and oral health. The CIP staff and interns distributed approximately $20,000 worth of SFMNP vouchers, which enable anyone over 60 to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers markets. In addition, each intern had individual projects, such as organizing contact information and resources, facilitating compensation from insurance companies for SilverSneakers, and making efforts to reopen the fitness center by connecting with physical therapy students at local universities. The interns learned how to create health education materials for people of all levels of health literacy.

 

Reflections:

Oluwatosin Ilori, Caoilainn McKenna, and Laura Timaran: “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the older adult population and their needs during our time at CIP. This was a new experience for all of us, and we also learned a lot about the coming elder boom from The Age of Dignity by Ai-Jen Poo, which was the Bridging the Gaps required reading for this summer. With all of these experiences in mind, we look forward to interacting with the geriatric population as future healthcare professionals. Moreover, we learned about health literacy through preparing materials about oral health, smoking cessation, and cardiovascular health that are accessible to the masses, as all science should be. In a very ageist society, CIP was a transformative experience where we unlearned many of these unconscious beliefs. Each day, we’d see lively members enjoy themselves, socialize, sing, laugh, create art, play, learn new languages and skills, and exercise. We’ve come to understand that older age is a beautiful and rewarding stage of life, where you can be reacquainted with your hobbies, passions, friends, and family. This experience exposed us to the difficulties that the geriatric population faces as they get older. Prominent examples include expenses associated with aging and the challenges families may face in caring for senior family members—topics we don't often discuss or consider when we are younger. The senior population will become a majority of the patients that we will be treating in our careers, therefore it is crucial that we keep their specific needs in mind during our interactions with them. Through this experience, we have acquired a deeper understanding of the barriers to healthcare and the social determinants of health, which will allow us to more effectively prevent and alleviate the common ailments that affect the geriatric population.”

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HumanGood - Tioga Presbyterian Apartments

 

Creating Community at Tioga Presbyterian Apartments

 

Student Interns:

Efthimios Bouikidis, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Stephanie Ilo, Temple University, School of Pharmacy

 

Academic Preceptors:

Ingrid Mapanao, MSW, MPH, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Brian Work, MD, MPH, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Jerome Wright, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

 

Community Preceptor:

Jacqueline Harvey, BSW, Social Service Coordinator, Tioga Presbyterian Apartments

 

Community Site:             

Tioga Presbyterian Apartments, operated by HumanGood, is a senior living facility providing low-income housing to seniors 62 and older, with the mission of helping them live their best possible lives. The services offered are designed to support those we serve, their families, and our team members in the pursuit of an engaged, purposeful life. The staff at Tioga Presbyterian Apartments believes everyone should have the opportunity to live life with enthusiasm, confidence, and security, regardless of social, physical, or economic circumstances.

 

Team’s Experience:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns worked with staff to run existing social activities and implement new ones for the residents at Tioga Presbyterian Apartments. They assisted the residents in completing applications for social services and answered any questions they had regarding technology and email. Interns also helped with building operations, including administrative tasks to facilitate smooth operations.

 

Reflections:

Efthimios Bouikidis: “Working at Tioga Presbyterian Apartments provided me with a valuable learning experience, as it was my first time working within the intimate setting of someone’s home. As I continue my education, I may not have another opportunity to work in such a setting, making this experience particularly unique. Given that a significant portion of medicine involves caring for the older population, it’s essential for me as a future physician to understand the daily realities of seniors’ lives. This insight will help me become a more empathetic and informed provider, enhancing the care I offer my patients. During my time there, I experienced numerous moments of connection and witnessed a lively community eager to engage with one another. Walking into a building and being welcomed into residents’ homes with such warmth and generosity was a reminder of how genuine connections can be fostered through simple acts of kindness and hospitality.”

 

Stephanie Ilo: “I am happy to have been a part of Bridging the Gaps this summer. It has given me so much knowledge and growth along with learning wisdom from the residents at Tioga Presbyterian Apartments. Talking to the residents gave me a chance to understand how their life was before they moved into Tioga. Being at Tioga, I learned about the quality of life that elderly people have living in a senior apartment building and what contributed to their quality of life, either good or bad. I found a connection and understanding with the elderly community by getting comfortable with getting to know their environment and people better. Bridging the Gaps has made me realize my purpose in my future career in serving people and the importance of listening to one’s story and better understanding patients as a person.”

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Lutheran Settlement House

 

Frankford Ave’s Finest: Lutheran Settlement House

 

Student Interns:

Louisa Benatovich, Temple University, School of Podiatric Medicine

Ethan Halprin, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

 

Academic Preceptors:

Ingrid Mapanao, MSW, MPH, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Brian Work, MD, MPH, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Jerome Wright, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

 

Community Preceptor:

Meg Finley, Lutheran Settlement House

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Community Site:

Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) was founded in 1902 to support the needs of recently arrived European immigrants. Located at 1340 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia’s vibrant Fishtown neighborhood, it remains committed to community advocacy by providing food, counseling, adult education courses, senior services, safety from abuse, and so much more to the diverse North Philadelphia community of today. Combating food insecurity is a key component of LSH’s mission to empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. LSH achieves this through the Share Food Program (its own large food pantry, which is open Monday through Friday and saw more than 11,000 visitors last year), the distribution of farmers market vouchers, and free community meals to support and bring the community together. In the LSH center for older adults, services available include exercise, computer, dance, yoga, and language classes, as well as health/nutrition education and social work support. Additionally, LSH provides critical counseling for victims of domestic violence (557 individuals received DV counseling in 2023 at LSH) and trauma-focused child counseling. LSH’s North Philadelphia location, Jane Addams Place, is a family shelter for those in need of transitional housing and who are experiencing homelessness.

 

Team’s Experience:

The Bridging the Gaps student interns spent significant time distributing Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture fruit and vegetable vouchers to hundreds of patrons aged 60 and over. These $50 vouchers can be used at many farmers markets in the city and throughout the state. Since all food pantry patrons needed to resubmit their TEFAP (The Emergency Food Access Program) forms by the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, the interns often helped LSH clients fill out these forms and then registered clients with Pennsylvania’s Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which is required for access to the food pantry. The interns also acquired TEFAP forms in additional languages, which greatly enhanced food pantry access. To promote cardiovascular health, smoking cessation, and oral health, interns partnered with Humana to create a trivia game that was attended by about 30 members of LSH’s center for older adults.

 

Reflections:

Louisa Benatovich: “My BTG summer at Lutheran Settlement House has been a healing one. During my first year of podiatry school, I felt very disconnected from the reason I wanted to get into a helping profession in the first place—people. This summer, I really connected with my new home in Fishtown. I’ve learned so much more about barriers people face in accessing care and resources in Philadelphia. I’ve learned to ask better questions to get people what they need in a compassionate and informed way. I’ve learned how to better work with an interprofessional team to meet a client where they are. I will absolutely take these skills with me into podiatric practice, where interdisciplinary teams are key to treating patients. Oh, and I learned some Spanish!”

 

Ethan Halprin: “The community that accesses Lutheran Settlement House is diverse in language and culture. During the summer, I spent time providing social services and engaging in health and wellness activities with LSH clients. Fortunately, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive, as the community gathers at LSH to seek support and companionship and is grateful for the work being done to fulfill its needs. I feel honored to have participated in BTG , and been a part of LSH due to their positive reputations among community members. At LSH and through the excellent presentations given by BTG speakers, I have learned valuable communication skills (including vocabulary, strategies for speaking to youth and senior citizens, and more). I especially enjoyed and found fruitful hearing the insights of pioneers and experts in the field of addiction medicine. I aim to become a more involved advocate in this field and utilize my newfound communication skills with patients.”

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Unitarian Universalist House (UUH) Outreach Program

 

Providing Support and Compassion for the Aging Population of Germantown

 

Student Intern: 

Ilana Mereminsky, Drexel University College of Medicine

 

Academic Preceptor: 

James Buehler, MD, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health

 

Community Preceptor: 

Sara Popkin, MSW, LSW, UUH Outreach Program

 

Community Site:

UUH Outreach provides individualized, quality, professional care that is responsive to the physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of older adults in the Northwest Philadelphia community. UUH Outreach provides a wide range of services, such as social work support, health promotion, and access to community funds to help older adults make ends meet. The staff nurse consults with clients to help them better understand their care plans and encourages healthy living. UUH Outreach partners with multiple community agencies to ensure that older adults in Northwest Philadelphia have access to as many resources as possible.

 

Team’s Experience:

The Bridging the Gaps student intern had a range of responsibilities at UUH Outreach, including delivering Meals on Wheels, helping with workshops at Maple Village, shadowing staff members at client visits, and supporting staff with various daily tasks. The intern came up with a few activities on her own, such as playing Scattergories with clients and making ice cream sundaes on a hot summer day. During AARP-sponsored workshops, the intern helped guide clients to the workshop space and supported the occupational therapist to help the workshops run smoothly. At the end of the summer, the intern planned a discussion on women’s health with the clients, hoping to engage them on a variety of topics and hear about their experiences and struggles growing up regarding their health and reproductive rights.

 

Reflections:

Ilana Mereminsky: “Working at UUH Outreach this summer has been an eye-opening experience for me. As someone who has worked with elderly people in various settings for several years now, Outreach takes a unique approach to their services. They showed me that anything is possible when it comes to showing care and compassion toward the older generation of Germantown. I was given a lot of autonomy in my role and was able to plan a variety of activities for residents and other clients in the area. I formed great relationships with both staff members and clients in the community and had a meaningful experience that has influenced my future career goals as a physician.”

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William Way LGBT Community Center

 

Prioritizing the Physical and Mental Wellness of Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ Elders

 

Student Intern:

Logan Fosu, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice

 

Academic Preceptor:

Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice

 

Community Preceptors:

Kyle Macklin, Elder Initiative Social Engagement Coordinator, William Way LGBT Community Center

Ed Miller, Elder Initiative Program Manager, William Way LGBT Community Center

 

Community Site:

William Way LGBT Community Center is the largest and longest operating LGBTQ+ community center in the Philadelphia five-county region. William Way serves a variety of LGBTQ+ populations in Philadelphia, intergenerationally and interculturally. The Elder Initiative is a department within William Way that runs a variety of supportive services and community programming for our LGBTQ+ elders, as seen via their partnership with John C. Anderson Apartments, the first and largest LGBTQ+-friendly senior housing complex in Philadelphia.

 

Team’s Experience:

The Bridging the Gaps student intern assisted with regularly scheduled Elder Initiative programming, such as free grocery days, Tuesday educational/social group meetings, and Friday wellness check-ins, and helped draft and submit grant proposals to secure funding for future events to support those affected by HIV/AIDS. The intern also worked with William Way staff to plan future programming, such as arts, culture, and more, that keeps LGBTQ+ elders connected with each other and the larger Philadelphia community.

 

Reflections:

Logan Fosu: “My time with the Elder Initiative was truly a transformative experience. I had the opportunity to learn so much from both my team members at William Way but also from the community members we work to serve. Being able to access the wealth of knowledge and wisdom from LGBTQ+ elders was truly a privilege, and getting to work directly with people who are so passionate about supporting them has widened my perspective on the elderly population. Through this experience, I am grateful to have further developed my skills around accurately identifying and addressing unmet community needs, as well as thinking critically about how we interact with each individual to best support them. Each person I had the pleasure of meeting had so much to share, leaving me in awe of both their vulnerability and perspective; words cannot capture the gratitude I have that they chose to open their community and hearts to me.”