Cynthia Hu, a first-year student at Grinnell College, is interning one to two days a week at The Mayflower Community as part of Grinnell College’s work-study program. She is studying under Keira Wilson, the Assistant Director of Service and Social Innovation in the Center for Careers, Live, and Service.
This service learning position is funded with a grant. Cynthia will be studying care for people with dementia with a focus on engaging virtual reality in the treatment program.
With a planned dual major in biochem and computer science, she is planning to go on to medical school and specialize in oral surgery. A native of Shanghai, China, Cynthia has volunteered in her home city at a nursing home and two hospitals—one large pediatrics and one local. In these roles, she performed a project to increase brain function using computer-based virtual reality games. She will bring some of those concepts to her work at Mayflower.
Cynthia will be working closely with Mindy Bacon, Mayflower’s Community Engagement Coordinator, who is certified as a Positive Approach to Care® Public Trainer. Mindy uses the Teepa Snow GEMS® program, composed of several progression models used to classify and define changes in a person due to the effects of dementia.
Teepa wanted to improve upon existing models and intends for the GEMS® to be utilized not just to classify a state or stage of dementia, but as a means to improve interaction and appreciation of individuals.
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