|
Sunday, 19/04/09, Danish delegation
An introduction to the history of Erasmus- program and the participant’s year 2009.
We are going to have our base on a nursing home in Preddvor. It is the first time that the IP has to take place within the frames of an institution. The idea is that the students has to be an integrated part of the place by doing fieldwork ect.
Monday, 20/04/09, Danish delegation
Introduction to the nursing home and staff
The home is special compared to other nursing homes in Slovenia because the resident often will have psychiatric or alcohol problems.
The staff members who visited us told about their working assignments and their approach towards the institution/ elderly.
The students’ personal viewpoint to aging
We were divided into 5 groups of different nationalities, to discuss the subject mentioned in the headline.
Conclusion of the day
It might seem like there are many similarities in relation to conditions in nursing homes. But it also seems like that there are many different understandings of how elderly policy should be prioritised in the different countries (both politically end economically)
Tuesday, 21/04/09, German delegation
The main topics of the day were the historical background of the „Old People’s home Preddvor “and Biography.
The lectures:
The social worker of the institution showed us a presentation about “Turn Castle” which is the building where the home of the elderly community is. In its history Josipina Urbančič Turnograjska played an important role.
Then two residents told us their life stories. Both were influenced by the Second World War. Although they had made hard experiences, all in all they seemed to be content with their life. We really enjoyed listening to the stories, because we had a direct contact to the residents. The old lady, called Milka, even spoke German with us. She was able to speak our language because she had to live in Germany during the Second World War.
The residents live in the home of elderly since 8/13 years and they made clear that it was a conscious decision to move there. Now they are happy to live in such a nice home.
The last thing we did in the morning was watching the first part of the presentation from the Slovenian group. They showed us a short film of Slovenia’s countryside. With the information of the film we had to answer some questions which were given to us before.
After this we had a lunch break.
The Afternoon program started with the second part from the Slovenian presentation.
We were informed about common stereotypes about old people, for example that they are passive, lonely, bored or that they are not allowed to fall in love. We also saw a little sketch which was very funny. To finish this up we had a group discussion.
At the end of the afternoon Heikki, the teacher from Finland, told us about the topic “A gap between generations”.
Wednesday 22/04/09, Finnish delegation
Evaluation about the IP-programme by the Finnish delegation
Walk to the lake with Preddvor Home for the elderly residents:
The programme started with the gathering in Preddvor House for the elderly where students first picked residents they were going to walk with to the lake. The purpose of the activity was to get authentic feeling of communicating with the elderly and especially Slovenian old people. And also the staff.
At first, communication seemed to be challenging mostly because of the language differences between residents and students. The problem disappeared when members of the Slovenes’ delegation came to aid and translated discussions between these two groups (groups were re-organised before the lake). From a student’s point of view, this immediately increased the communication level of the discussion. Residents’ lives were now seen outside the theoretical point of view. Intercultural communication with students all around Europe also brought a lot of positive spirit to the IP.
Work by pair-Family tree
After lunch the IP started working with the Family tree assignment given on Tuesday. Students divided into groups of two and discussed about their families and thoughts about their lives. The purpose of the pair work was to remind students of their routes. In social work, it is important to give attention to persons own history and avoid gaps between generations. Deeds always have consequences and they should be taken under consideration.
Then we went to Kranj to observe elderly people in the daily life.
Thursday, 23/04/09, French delegation
This morning we were divided into three international groups. Each group was guided by a member of the home for elderly people. We went through the whole two buildings to discover everything and received a very clear explanation of everything that’s happening in the home for elderly people and what the staff members and elderly people do in the home. We visited different units for elderly people, the kitchen, the living room, some rooms, the office of the social worker, the administration, the sick bay, the laundry room, saw some activities… During the tour in the elderly home, we were able to speak with some different staff members and saw back the elderly people we’ve already met with our trip to the lake.
After the guiding tour we were again divided in the five international groups of the first day to reflect about this visit. We had a poster where we had to write keywords, feelings, thoughts… we’ve had after this visit.
At noon we ate all together as usual in the home itself. We ate strukel and beans in some kind of sauce. Some liked it al lot, some a little less.
In the afternoon every group presented his poster to the other students. Group 1: happiness, kind and friendly people, lack of privacy, lack of homes for children, young people and adults with mental of physical disabilities…
Group 2: human caring, communication, illness, small rooms, diversity…
Group 3: memories, activities, smiling employees, no privacy, lack of colour…
Group 4: confused, nice, meeting elderly people, socializing…
Group 5: atmosphere, generations, living conditions, good health care…
After every presentation the students could ask questions and discuss about everything that was said.
After this lecturer Dr. Jana Mali (Faculty of Social Work Ljubljana) explained us the concept of Goffman’s total institution and characteristics of homes for the older people, based on her these of 2003. At the end we had a little discussion about this theme.
The last part of our day at the home for elderly people we went back to the hotel and prepared in three groups our questions for the next day visit in Ljubljana. Questions:
- What kind of education do the social workers have?
- What can you tell us about the users?
- How is this organization financed?
- What kind of methods are you using?
- What is your basic philosophy?
- …
At 6 pm we ate our evening meal at the hotel together: bacon, cheese and salad for starter, Slovenian speciality with bread and meat in sauce, Slovenian cake as dessert.
Friday, 24/04/09, Slovenian delegation
Today we went on agency visit to Ljubljana. We visited three organizations in three groups. Each group got a chance to get in touch with institution.
The first group were in shelter for the homeless. They got the information about how the homeless people are treated, what kind of services they can get, who are the employees, etc. This group also went to see nongovernmental organization Kralji ulice, which was out of schedule. This organization is daily centre for homeless people.
The second group was about to see the institute for rehabilitation Soča, which is the main health intuition offering comprehensive rehabilitation to persons with disabilities of motor functions and work abilities. The innovation of this institution is a smart home Iris, which enables the elderly and persons with disability to communicate with the outside world.
And the third or the last group had a chance to know more about Papilot, institute for enhancement and development of the quality of life. The manager or this institution presented us what are they working, who are the users, etc. At the end we joined the group of twelve older people with dementia. We introduced to them and also they did to us and we all sang a traditional Slovenian song.
Saturday, 25/04/09, International groups
This morning we got breakfast at the hotel from 8 to 9 o’clock. Then we all went to the home for elderly people where we got an assignment. This assignment was built from our experiences from yesterday at our agency visiting and we were working in three international groups. We were talking about what we had experienced and then we made a presentation with power point.
The German teacher told about old people in Germany.
Then we had dinner at the hotel and enjoyed the rest of this sunny day.
Sunday, 26/04/09, International groups
Today’s program was to watch a film called « Iris » to learn something about dementia and how this affects the people that surround the person. We found the film very interesting, but also would want it to last longer, so that the picture of dementia would have come clearer. First plan was to discuss about the film in national groups, but because of the emotional theme we decided just to think about it on our own and walk and talk in pair.
The Danish teacher told about social pension in Denmark.
Monday 27/04/09, International groups
First in the morning we heard 3 presentations about the institution which we had visit on Friday the 24th in Ljubljana.
Group 1 talked about the homeless shelter. It was very interesting and an eye widening experience. It was absorbing for the international group of students to see the Slovenian way how to handle with the homeless.
The second presentation was about the Institute of Rehabilitation. Most special about this institute were the amazing high technology. It showed us how people with special needs can have an independent life.
At last we had a presentation about “Papilot”. Papilot has also social service for the “clients” or the users, so they can get social, mental and physical help, if it’s necessary. The unique thing about this institution is that the old people, the blinds and the other user are together. They are a part of the society.
Before the lunch we separated into international groups and wrote a small article for the elderly home of Preddvor newspaper.
After lunch the French students presented their own presentation about France, social worker and social working in France. In this delegation was one person original from Belgium and she showed us a presentation about the social system in Belgium. So now we have a better point of view about national support systems in other countries.
Last presentation of the day was from the finish delegation. Their topic was about aging in Finland. They presented their country how the elderly live. After this they showed us a case study about 2 elderly people and how active they are.
To finish the presentations we did a small discussion.
Tuesday, 28/04/09, International groups
First presantation was made by the German delagation and it was about »Demographical situation with in relation to the big number of migrants who are living there. They informed the others about the political situation of elderly.
After a short break the Danish delagation started with their presentation of the system that Denmark has about elderly. They pointed out one special home for elderly which was presented trough the photos.
After a lunch we listened the presentation of Vito Flaker from a Faculty of social work in Ljubljana. He explained us a view of »long-term care« that they were trying to achieve in Slovenia as a new challenge to society and a new paradigm of care. It was really good to see the different point of view of taking care of people.
We ended the day with evaluation by the Danish teacher Charlotte Laustsen
Wednessday, 29/04/09, International groups
We heard a presentation about Demographic changes and intergenerational solidarity by lecturer Gerald Schaefer. The afternoon we spend with preparing presentations in the national groups.
Our topic of the day was also communication.
So we had a tea-party together with the elderly in their home.
We wanted to change our experiences and our opinions about the ten days with the elderly.
So we had a livefull discussion with them and we were excited because they were so interested in us.
So trough the whole day we had many new experiences and much time to reflect about the past ten days.
In the evening we had a good-bye-party to come together for the last time.
Everybody of our international group was agreeing that we had ten wonderful days with each other and we all will take a lot of special experiences back to our home. |
