The Student Experience
Lori’s Hands student volunteers are paired together to make weekly visits to community members living with chronic conditions. Students help with a range of day-to-day activities and learn from clients about the realities of living with a chronic illness.
Here are some of the benefits students have realized through their involvement:
- Insight into and empathy for the human experience of living with a chronic condition
- Improved communication skills
- Deeper understanding of and connection to the local community
- Job shadowing and better awareness of health care in action (e.g. home-based physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, etc.)
- Service hours applicable to current or future academic and professional activities and pursuits
96
of students feel confident in their ability to effectively communicate with older people they don't know personally
92
of students feel connected to the people who live in the community surrounding their university's campus
96
of students feel knowledgeable about challenges with day-to-day activities that affect people living with chronic illness