Elder Rehab Needs 23 Interns and Volunteers for Fall 2018.

Elder Rehab Needs 23 Interns and Volunteers for Fall 2018.

The Elder Rehab program at the Tucson Jewish Community Center (JCC) is an exercise and cognitive stimulation program for memory-challenged senior adults. The senior participants are paired - one to one - with UA interns and volunteers who provide twice weekly rehab sessions for a total of 20 sessions per semester. Each session consists of an hour of physical exercise and an hour of memory and language stimulation exercises and games. Training will be provided. Hours are worked out between student and the assigned partner. The JCC is located at 3800 E. River Road, corner of Dodge (about a 20 minute drive from campus).

An open book quiz on Alzheimer’s and a final report culled from weekly records kept on participant responses to activities are required.

There are also 2 social events students are requested to attend. The 45 hours required for a one credit internship or independent study course are easily met; most students log about 50 hours, including training time and social events.

Applicants are accepted on a first come, first served basis, with preference for students who commit for two semesters. Male students and one Spanish speaker are especially needed. Applicants must have a car and either have current CPR credentials or be registered for a course before the start of the program (the week of September 10).

There is a mandatory training session on the exercise component of the program on Sat. Sept. 8 at 8:30 or 9 a.m. followed by a “meet your partner” brunch from 11-1.   Training on the cognitive activities will be at a time to be arranged between applicants and the program coordinator, Dr. Sharon Arkin.

JCC Elder Rehab is entering its 8th semester and is based on a federally-funded UA research project which is described at www.u.arizona.edu/~sarkin/elderrehab.html.  

A brief video about the current program is on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbscTmUKHVc

Note:  Former student participants credit the Elder Rehab experience for helping them get into medical school and other graduate programs and jobs.

For information, email or call  Dr. Sharon Arkin (PsyD) at  520-603-2912.