1) Describe your service learning agency and its mission;
As a "Christian nonprofit social ministry organization affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," Lyngblomsten provides "quality care to seniors of all faiths and cultures through its healthcare and housing facilities as well as through its community-based outreach programs for seniors living in their own homes or apartments" (Lyngblomsten, 2011). The mission reads: "Influenced by Christ, Lyngblomsten provides a ministry of compassionate care and innovative services to older adults in order to preserve and enhance their quality of life". The organization lives out its Christian affiliation with programs such as Care Team Ministry, Parish Nurse Ministry, and through its partnership with "31 Minneapolis/St.Paul-area congregations."
Lyngblomsten also offers multiple levels of housing and healthcare services including
various apartment buildings with assisted living services available, and a 24-hour skilled nursing home for transitional/short-term care and long-term care as well as dementia/Alzheimer's program options. Members of Lyngblomsten also have access to home and community-based programs including: Community Wellness and Education, The Gathering, and the 5-5-1 Club & Café which is open to the public. With an on-site chapel, beauty parlor, gift shop, and much more, Lyngblomsten does its best to work "with the
community, for the community . . . side by side to help older adults live life fully engaged."
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2) Interpret why you chose this agency for your service learning project;
After deciding to study the effects of Alzheimer's disease in today's society, specifically in the urban setting of St. Paul, Minnesota, I researched volunteer opportunities, and found Lyngblomsten to be a perfect fit. I learned that I was able to work at Lyngblomsten specifically with memory loss patients across all levels, including Alzheimer's disease patients, and decided this would allow for the most enriching setting for the project.
3) Evaluate what you expect to learn from this activity.
As a volunteer within the organization, I hope to gain new insights on the disease and its challenges brought forth to the community and its members. Serving at Lyngblomsten may allow for a deeper understanding of vocation as various stories are shared by patients of callings, opportunities, victories, and failures they faced throughout their lives. Through evaluating other volunteers and how they utilize their strengths and gifts to serve at Lyngblomsten, I may gain a better understanding of my personal value to be used for the sake of others. Over the course of the semester, as I complete service hours and engage in lectures within the course "Scholarship and Service For The Sake Of Others", I hope that new ideas about and deeper understandings of vocation, religion, academics, and their interconnectivity will be synthesized.
References
Lyngblomsten. (2011). About Us. Retrieved from Lyngblomsten: http://www.lyngblomsten.org/about-us
