Serving with Care
Budding human services professionals and native Delawareans support the state’s aging populations through summer internships
Driven to give back from a young age, native Delawareans and UD students Grace DiGiacomo and Lauria Tana-Dawson knew they wanted careers that made a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Through the University of Delaware, they found their path in the people-centered, mission-focused human services major.
As part of the major, DiGiacomo and Tana-Dawson engaged in 400 hours of internship experience, gaining real-world experience and opportunities for personal growth. Grounded in meaningful interactions with retirement community members, their internships helped them provide compassionate and dignified care for Delaware’s eldest residents.
“The residents at my internship have taught me just as much as I’ve learned in the classroom,” said Tana-Dawson, now a junior in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) who interned at The Moorings, a retirement community in her hometown of Lewes, Delaware. “They’ve shared their stories, life experiences and advice with me, and those are things I’ll carry with me [for a long time].”
Supporting Fellow Delawareans
As a high schooler at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington, Delaware, DiGiacomo often volunteered with older adult populations. “The older adult population is quickly growing, yet they remain extremely underserved. I wanted to make helping [them] my career,” she said.
That’s why the Newark Senior Center’s Meeting of the Minds program immediately piqued her interest. As an intern, DiGiacomo encouraged critical thinking, creativity and positive aging for individuals with dementia, memory loss and cognitive impairments. She led art projects, trivia games and exercise, all while supporting the participants’ autonomy.
“It is the most incredible experience watching people’s eyes light up when we play ‘Music Bingo’ and they recognize an old favorite song, or we play ‘Never Have I Ever’ and they jump at the opportunity to share a story from their past,” DiGiacomo said.
At The Moorings, Tana-Dawson also assisted residents through exercise, musical therapy and other tailored activities. But the most meaningful part of her internship was listening to those stories from the past. She was moved by the experiences of one resident who was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1931 and lived through World War II.
“One thing I’ve learned is that sometimes the biggest part of my job isn’t the activity itself — it’s simply spending time talking with residents and making them feel seen and valued,” Tana-Dawson said. “I’ve learned about World War II in school my whole life, but hearing someone’s personal experiences made history feel completely different.”
DiGiacomo and Tana-Dawson’s supervisors have observed their impact on these communities, too.
“Lauria has excelled at engaging residents within our Assisted Living community by building genuine connections through meaningful conversations, group activities and one-on-one interactions,” said Wilma Holt, activity director at The Moorings at Lewes. “She has taken the time to get to know each resident as an individual, always treating them with kindness, dignity and respect.”
For both DiGiacomo and Tana-Dawson, those personal interactions helped them develop their self confidence as budding professionals.
“One unexpected thing I’ve learned is how much more confident I’ve become,” Tana-Dawson said. “When I first started, I was nervous about holding conversations with residents. Now I feel completely comfortable walking up to residents, starting conversations and building relationships. Seeing residents smile when they see me or ask where I’ve been if I miss a day means more to me than they probably realize.”
They’re proud of their professional growth, but even more proud to give back to their close-knit Delaware communities.
“Some of our participants have lived in Delaware their whole lives and tell stories about going out with friends on Main Street or going down to the Rehoboth boardwalk with their families,” DiGiacomo said. “Everyone has lived a unique life, yet they can all relate to being a Delawarean.”
“Being able to complete my internship in the community where I grew up has made this experience even more meaningful,” Tana-Dawson said. “I’m proud to say I’m from Delaware, and I’m proud to represent UD while working at The Moorings.”
DiGiacomo and Tana-Dawson’s internships ended in mid-July, but both continued to work or volunteer at their organizations for the rest of the summer.
To learn more about how undergraduate students can give back to children, families and the community, visit CEHD’s “Majors and Minors” webpage.
Article by Jessica Henderson. Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and courtesy of Lauria Tana-Dawson.