The Westward Ho
In 1980, the Westward Ho, a 600-room hotel in Phoenix, Arizona built in 1928 transitioned to a federally subsidized 300-unit housing complex for low-income individuals who are disabled or elderly. After initially occupying this wonderful facility, time passed for the elderly residents and family and friends went about their lives or gradually passed away and the elderly were forgotten and left isolated. For nearly seven years, these heretofore forgotten elderly residents of the Westward Ho apartment complex have benefited from the empathy and kindness of a young generation of interns at Arizona State University (ASU). In 2015, they created a 15,000-ft space called the Community Collaborative within the subsidized housing complex.
The Community Collaborative
The collaborative is run by the Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, College of Health Solutions, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation and the ASU School of Social Work and is staffed largely by student interns from the colleges. Within the student-run center, interns provide a variety of free services that address the psychosocial and preventive health needs of residents. The collaborative works to provide the residents with therapy and activities to occupy their time during the day. Student interns are in charge of running group sessions or doing therapy with the residents, providing them real-world experience in their majors.
"One important thing that I've learned is that this population is very ignored," said Adrine Rodriguez, an intern at the Community Collaborative and graduate student studying social work. "Many of the residents' only support system is the Community Collaborative."
The Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the elderly at the Westward Ho were again isolated by COVID restrictions that prevented them from assembling in the collaborative or the young students from attending to their needs. However, the ASU interns would not be dissuaded. They immediately held discussions focusing on eradicating the COVID isolation and harnessing technology for social good.
Across Generations
One intern put it like this; "They're helping me to be a better social worker and preparing me for my success," he said. "They're definitely helping me as much as I'm helping them."
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