Resident Services Intern | Friends House, Sandy Spring, MD
This position is part of the Friends Services Alliance (FSA) Internship program and will be held at Friends House Retirement Community in Sandy Spring, MD.
Description of Internship
The ideal candidate will be someone studying Psychology, Social Work or Healthcare Management. The intern will gain experience in implementing systems serving our independent living residents. Work includes researching available resources and expanding the existing resource library, developing person-centered programs for individuals with unique needs and preferences, and interviewing residents and developing a project that draws upon resident biographies. The intern will be supervised by the Resident Services Coordinator.
Educational Objectives and Project Goals
- Learn about the unique needs of older adult populations from a diverse income group.
- Learn about the various departments involved in resident services in a retirement community.
- Learn facilitation and communication methods for older adult populations and their families.
Overview:
Friends House Retirement Community is a faith-based non-profit retirement community that includes an affordable housing partnership on campus. It is unique among retirement communities in Maryland in that it is also a registered village – a neighborhood with internal and external supports designed aging-in-community.
From the tradition of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Friends House holds the values of Friends known by the acronym SPICES: Simplicity, Peace and Non-violence, Integrity, Community, Equality, Stewardship, and Sustainability.
Friends have a practice of inclusion in decision- making known as Sense of the Meeting. It is a practice of deep listening and discernment that is now recognized more in secular settings as being beneficial to solving problems in a group setting. At Friends House, we often hear the expression, “Nothing about us without us.” In that spirit, residents of Friends House contribute in significant ways to the life of the community via their own 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Friends House Seniors Association.
Friends House is a 62-acre campus located at 17340 Quaker Lane, Sandy Spring, Maryland. Sandy Spring is a small town rich in natural beauty and Quaker history. It is also mid-way between Washington, DC, and Baltimore with a forty-five-minute drive to each city. There are many local restaurants, shops, museums, and a world-class theatre within three miles of the campus.
Why Aging Services?
Get experience in one of the fastest growing career sectors! The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060. Aging Services organizations have many positions including management, marketing, social work, and IT. Friend Services Alliance (FSA) has ten positions available at organizations located in PA, MD and OH. Over the past 11 years, we have placed more than 50 interns in several different FSA member locations. Many of these students had not considered working in the senior living field prior to their internship.
Having – or being – an intern can be a life-changing experience. Read some success stories:
- Experiences of our past interns.
- Internships can lead to a fulfilling career change.
- Resident life can benefit from FSA interns.
- Read about previous internship projects.
As part of an initiative seeking to identify and develop the next generation of leaders, FSA has partnered with Friends Foundation for the Aging to create an internship program for students at who wish to learn about working in the field of aging services. Accepted students experience organizational life within an FSA member organization for two months during the summer. Each intern will have an onsite preceptor to ensure their success. That host will have experience in the field which will give the opportunity for the student to learn directly from a mentor. Interns have worked in several different departments, including Administration, Human Resources, Social Work and Dining Services.
Interns must receive academic credit for their experience and be supported by a faculty member of their educational institution in establishing academic goals for the project. Each intern will be supervised by an experienced onsite manager who will assist with learning goals.
Interns are provided:
- Preceptor/Host Onsite
- Housing and Meals (if not local to the area)
- Possibility of a $500/month stipend (2 months). Dates are flexible and arranged with the host site.
- Reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for the initial trip to and the return trip from the host site.
Click here to apply.