Blenheim-Newport Assisted Living

Blenheim (pronounced differently depending on who you talk to) is a large agency off of Valley Road in Middletown. The capital "T" shaped facility is placed with a healthy distance from the busy road and sandwiched between Newport Animal Hospital and Temple Shalom. My main interactions with Blenheim come from 2007-2008 when I volunteered in their activities department. If you are interested in activities, games, or macro volunteering, I suggest going through activities. For the most part I worked with two women, Claudia and Jeanie. Their office was on the second floor, diagonally to the right out of the elevators.
One of the first things I learned at Blenheim is that everyone is called Mr. ______ or Mrs. _______. Very, very rarely are first names used. This is a common way to address residents of long-term care facilities, nursing homes, or other senior living centers, but in Blenheim's case it appears as more of an absolute code (more strict) than other facilities. I never learned the first names of the people I met. There are several other volunteer opportunities that were available to me at Blenheim apart from BINGO. During the winter holiday season, I brought a group of students to help decorate the facility mainly by erecting Christmas trees in various areas of the building. Other opportunities included ice cream sundae scooping and musical performances. Activities are not isolated to the building, however. Blenheim includes large grounds which stretch out to the street and around. The side walks were created with wheelchairs and walkers in mind and are linked to gazebos and benches that many residents and families take advantage of.
Each Tuesday in the afternoon I was ran BINGO and called numbers. For all of you who have never been a caller, it's no easy job. Participants may be quick to transfer their anger to you if they are not getting ahead. I recommend speaking loudly and clearly and repeating the call several times as most of the people I serviced were partially deaf. That isn't to say slow down--many will become aggravated with you if you go too slow. Food services would always bring in snacks half-way through BINGO: usually cookies and punch. Don't stop in a middle of a game! Try and help wrap up a game so those bringing in the snacks have more success asking what the residents want and so others aren't bothered by constant interruptions. Snack time is brief, but it is a good opportunity to have the residents learn a little more about you and for you to learn more about them. BINGO is such that you would most likely see the same faces week to week and get to know the participants slowly because of that. Regulars often also have certain cards they like, perhaps a lucky seat, and often specific chips they prefer that they think will bring them good luck. I did my best to try and honor that to absolve conflict.
One of Blenheim's strengths is the amount of space they have and the flexibility with which it can be used. My experience working with activities at different senior living centers tells me that the agencies are always looking for fresh ideas that their residents have not yet been exposed to. They are probably the best resource to direct you as to what may or may not work in your program, but they are often more than willing to bring new ideas forward and have others run a program. Calling Blenheim (401-239-2509) is an easy way for more information or if you are more comfortable speaking to someone in person, the front desk a little to your left when you walk in is always helpful. Last, if you do volunteer at Blenheim or other anywhere else that services the elderly, I urge you to recognize how vulnerable the people you are working with truly are. By living in a facility suddenly their lives are a lot more regimented and others are making many decisions for them. In some ways this is very nice and great deal less worrisome. In other respects, it is a loss of freedom and independence. The residents are "stuck" in a sense and you are free to come and go as you please. The best way to counter this is to keep confidentiality. Names and other distinguishing details are best kept in-agency and not brought to friends or other outside sources.