Inglis House
Title: Activities to Empower – Therapeutic Life Enrichment for Residents at Inglis House
Student Interns:
Gloria Pezzella
Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Clarissa Lacson, PhD, MT-BC
Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts in Therapy
Community Preceptor:
Patricia Veltri
Inglis House
Community Site:
Inglis House is a residential skilled nursing facility providing person-centered care for adults with neurodegenerative disabilities. The residents, who range in age from 20 to 90, are all wheelchair users. Their primary diagnoses include multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. Inglis House is a nonprofit, which allows it to provide therapeutic and life enrichment services with many engagement opportunities, including art classes, history lectures, technology services, music therapy, trips, and more.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern worked alongside the Therapeutic Life Enrichment Team assisting with daily activities scheduled for residents, including art groups, music games, sensory meditation, and practices for Keen Games (Inglis House’s annual Olympics). The intern’s contributions included transporting residents and assisting with personal adaptations, as needed, for hands-on activities. The overall goal was to allow residents to operate as independently as possible and get the most from the experience. Throughout the summer at Inglis House, the intern socialized frequently with residents, providing reassurance and friendship.
Reflections
“The time I spent at Inglis House this summer was deeply meaningful for me. Connecting with the residents and learning more about the person beyond what meets the eye demonstrated the importance of person-centered care to me. Each person is unique, with a special story to tell, and giving someone the space to share can completely transform your interactions. I am moved by each person’s resilience and positive outlook despite the challenges they have faced which led them to Inglis House. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to spend time at Inglis House and to learn how to respectfully navigate the complex medical conditions contributing to these disabilities. All of this will contribute to my practice as a physician in the future, as I want to be a provider whom my patients can trust, someone who truly sees and understands them.”
Gloria Pezzella