The program is designed to provide students with a full-time, residential experience focused on understanding the challenges of providing care to terminally ill members of the community. The 8-week fellowship will challenge students by having them work alongside community members in one of upstate New York’s comfort care “homes for the dying.” Upon the completion of this community based learning program, students will be able to:
• Contribute to a research project that meets an agency-identified need.
• Identify the unique challenges and burdens placed on caregivers;
• Recognize the importance of psychosocial support in end-of-life care;
• Demonstrate compassionate, non-judgmental, empathetic care that preserves a resident’s dignity at the end-of-life;
• Have an increased comfort communicating with terminally ill residents and their family members.
• Identify symptom management approaches for conditions common at the end of life including pain, dementia, anxiety, nausea, edema (swelling), and dyspnea (difficulty breathing);
• Serve as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team model and recognize the value provided from different healthcare professionals.

CARE Fellows will be performing a variety of activities during the program, including providing direct bedside care to 2 terminally ill residents. Fellows will:

●         Be approved by the home to serve as a volunteer and complete all necessary training;

●         Commit to the full (35 hrs/week) program from June 12th-August 4th that will include work daytime, night, evening, and weekend shifts that could begin as early as 6:50 am and end as late as 11:00 pm (schedule will vary week to week);

●         Work as a member of a caregiver team and serve as surrogate family members responsible for direct, hands-on care of residents' needs including assisting with activities of daily living (toileting, feeding, taking medications etc.);

●         Offer emotional support to residents, family members and friends visiting residents;

●         Provide resident care narratives and carefully document care decisions;

●         Maintain a reflective journal based on field notes taken after each shift;

●         Complete 10 experiential learning modules with readings and clinical vignettes that require written narratives reflecting on various topics including caregiving experiences, communication, cultural competency, and issues surrounding death and dying;

●         Conduct research that includes patient chart reviews and summaries of caregiver narratives;

●         Arrange for room and board and transportation to and from your site (some assistance may be available for this).

• Stipend ($3,800 for 8 weeks) 

This application will require you to provide several pieces of information (names/contacts for 2 references, letter of intent etc..) that you may want to gather before beginning the application. You will be asked to provide a 2-3 page letter of intent that explains why you want to work as a CARE Fellow, how the fellowship supports your career goals, and what special talents you bring to the program. Please include a brief description of any research skills that you have and the name of the faculty member who has agreed to supervise the research project. Your letter should discuss your familiarity with any of the homes and describe any prior experiences that speak to your ability to perform the responsibilities outlined in the program description. In addition, please include your preferred home placement and housing plan should you be placed there (i.e. will live at home in Gansevoort, NY if assigned to Mary's Haven in Saratoga, NY). It would be helpful for you to compose this offline before initiating your application.

Please use the following link to request 2 references letters from individuals who can speak to your candidacy for the CARE program:
https://union-college.formstack.com/forms/community_action_research_education_program_letter_request_form

All inquiries should be addressed to Professor Carol Weisse at weissec@union.edu