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Service Learning Internships: Summer 2015
A Helping Hand (AHH), a nonprofit serving seniors and adults with disabilities, hosts a Service Learning
Internship Program for college students and graduates interested in healthcare-related or Social Work
careers. Our recent class of Service Learning Interns logged nearly 6,000 of service to older adults,
assisting with transportation and providing care in the home setting.
Former AHH interns have successfully launched careers as physicians, nurses, social workers,
occupational or physical therapists and public health professionals. Others currently are enrolled at topranked schools including Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins
University, UNC-CH and Wake Forest University.
Interns gain direct geriatric care experience, develop strong interpersonal and leadership skills and work
with a diverse client base. They assist clients with a wide range of medical issues including impaired
vision or hearing, limited mobility, and cognitive losses. Interns also will become familiar with conditions
such as Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and more. Interns may
also assist younger adults who are disabled due to multiple sclerosis, recent surgery or an automobile
accident. Interns learn about family dynamics, the role of the family caregiver, and social isolation.
Interns also will have the chance to accompany clients to medical appointments, understand the
importance of the patient/provider relationship and learn how to advocate for a patient.
A Helping Hand’s Service Learning Interns will have the opportunity to:
Gain Direct Care Experience
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Engage clients in intellectually stimulating activities.
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Provide escorted transportation to appointments.
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Provide assistance with grocery shopping.
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Assist the visually impaired with reading, correspondence and home organization.
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Run errands that would be challenging for someone with reduced mobility.
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Plan and prepare basic meals.
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Accompany clients to social, community and/or religious activities.
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Provide respite care so a tired family caregiver can take time to attend to his or her own needs.
Receive Valuable Training
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General Orientation: focuses on strengthening skills for working with older adults and disabled
individuals. Topics that will be covered include effective communication, sensitivity to client needs,
adherence to policy, establishing healthy boundaries with clients, emergency procedures,
confidentiality and tips for successful visits.

Sensitivity Awareness Training: discusses how the changes of aging affect clients’ physical and
psychological wellbeing. Props and demonstrations make this training interactive and hands-on.

Mobility Training: provides instruction on the safe and proper use of walkers, canes and
wheelchairs, as well as how to safely assist a client in and out of a chair or car.

Dementia Training: offers understanding of cognitive deficiencies and how to effectively
communicate both with clients who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and family caregivers.

Patient Advocacy Training: learn how to become an advocate and hear about Advance Care
Directives.
Supplemental trainings vary, but may include depression, proper nutrition and fitness, demonstration of
adaptive devices for the visually and mobility impaired, as well as first aid and CPR techniques.
1502 West NC Highway 54, Suite 405 • Durham, North Carolina 27707
Phone: (919) 403-5555 • Fax: (919) 969-7015 • www.ahelpinghandnc.org
Interact with Agency Professionals
Our training sessions and relationships with community partners and providers in the community enable
interns to have face-to-face contact and networking opportunities with professionals from a variety of
disciplines.
Work in Different Settings
A Helping Hand’s Interns also have the opportunity to work with our community partners to gain
experience working in a variety of care settings. Currently, interns may work at Charles House Eldercare
Center, an adult day care center in Carrboro and/or at Seasons at South Point, a memory care community
near Southpoint Mall. Alternate sites are also available for gaining valuable experience.
Reflect on Your Experience
All interns are required to submit a three to five page reflection paper by the end of the internship, about
how the internship affected their perceptions about older adults, as well as any impact the experience may
have made on their career path. Specific examples regarding the intern experience will be an integral part
of this submission.
Service Learning Internship Requirements
A Helping Hand is a respected service-learning site that hosts internships year-round. We work with
interns who may apply to receive course credit from a variety of schools and departments for both health
and non health-related careers. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the process for course
credit.
Our Pre-Health Internship Program is an unpaid internship that requires a commitment to 90 hours of
direct care experience. Most interns will serve 8 - 10 hours per week, during the semester, with flexibility
for school holidays.
Intern assignments will involve working with client in our charitable program and providing respite for
full-time family caregivers. Interns may choose to volunteer beyond the minimum requirements or and
can request work with clients in our private pay program and receive a stipend of $8.50 per hour.
Employment in the private pay program is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of assignments.
Interns will receive mileage reimbursement at the current IRS rates for transporting a client or doing an
errand on the client’s behalf. Please note that interns are not reimbursed for mileage or credited for time
commuting to or from the assignment.
Important: A car is required in order to participate in the pre-health service learning internship.
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Scheduled Client Hours
Each intern will be placed with a variety of client assignments by our program-scheduling department.
Matches are made based upon common interests, character traits, proximity, availability and additional
information, so that interns have a broad spectrum of experiences with Senior Citizens of the Triangle.
Any questions regarding placements with clients should be addressed with our program directors.
Tentative Internship Training Schedule
Our summer Pre-Health Internship Program kicks off in mid-May.
Saturday, May 16
Mandatory Training, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
May 18
Interns begin working with clients
May 28
Internship Training Opportunity, 5:30 to 8:30
June 18
Internship Training Opportunity, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
July 9
Internship Training Opportunity, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
August 9-15
Students complete internship hours and submit reflection papers
Scheduled Client Hours
Each intern will be placed with a variety of client assignments by our program-scheduling department.
Matches are made based upon common interests, character traits, proximity, availability and additional
information, so that interns have a broad spectrum of experiences with Senior Citizens of the Triangle.
Any questions regarding placements with clients should be addressed with our program directors.
Application Process
To apply, please visit our website at www.ahelpinghandnc.org/internship.php.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority will be given to applications received
by May 1, 2015. For more information, contact our Internship Coordinator, Steffi Tornow,
at (919) 403-5555.
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