At Wesley Health Care Center, there are reminders every day that care is not a one-way exchange. It is a dynamic, human, and deeply transformative relationship. That belief is beautifully reflected in Wesley’s partnership with Skidmore College, where social work students step into the Health Care Center not only to learn, but to connect, to serve, and to grow alongside the residents who so generously share their wisdom.
Through this collaboration, students support vulnerable seniors and their families while gaining invaluable real-world experience, discovering that education comes alive in the presence of lived experience.
From Theory to the “Grey Reality”
Peter McCarthy, Senior Teaching Professor and Director of Field Education at Skidmore, describes the student experience as “the best of both worlds,” a strong liberal arts education combined with a social work program intentionally designed to guide students from theory into practice.
“Internships get you in the game,” Professor McCarthy shares.
In the classroom, students study frameworks and models. At Wesley, they encounter what he calls the “grey reality,” the deeply human, nuanced situations that move beyond black-and-white theory. Here, students step outside the textbook and into real relationships, real family dynamics, and real-life decision-making.
Samantha Pacheco, Director of Social Work at Wesley Health Care Center, sees this transformation firsthand.
“Textbooks often don’t prepare you for the real world,” Samantha explains. “Internships do.”
By embedding students within Wesley’s care teams, they are not simply observing — they are participating, contributing, and growing.
When Wisdom Guides the Next Generation
For Dani, a Skidmore social work student, her time at Wesley is both professionally formative and personally transformative.
“I became more confident. I learned who I am,” she reflected. “Working with seniors just seemed to click.”
Like many young college students, Dani felt the quiet pressure of needing to have everything figured out, including what path to pursue, whether she was making the right choices, and what the future might hold.
One day, during a conversation, a resident gently asked her how old she was. When Dani shared her age, the resident smiled warmly and said:
“Oh dear, you are just getting started!”
In that simple yet profound moment, perspective replaced pressure. The reassurance only lived experience can offer helped Dani understand that growth takes time and that uncertainty is often the beginning of clarity.
Her work includes supporting residents as well as engaging with families, listening to their concerns, helping navigate transitions, and offering compassionate presence. Through these relationships, she gained what she describes as a unique perspective on aging and youth.
“Aging is beautiful,” she shared.
Celebrating the Next Chapter
Wesley proudly shared that Dani has been accepted into the Master of Social Work program at SUNY Albany. This next step reflects not only her dedication and growth, but also the power of experiential learning grounded in authentic connection.
A Partnership that Strengthens Community
Wesley’s partnership with Skidmore College thrives because it is collaborative, creative, flexible, and fluid. Faculty and field educators work closely with their professional team to ensure students receive meaningful supervision while responding to the evolving needs of Wesley’s residents and families.
The impact extends far beyond the internship itself: Residents gain additional emotional support and meaningful engagement and families benefit from attentive listening and thoughtful advocacy. Students build confidence and professional readiness.
Wesley’s broader community benefits from the preparation of compassionate, skilled future social workers.
Most importantly, this partnership serves as a reminder that learning is lifelong. Whether 20 or 90 years old, each person has something to teach and something to discover.
At Wesley Health Care Center, alongside valued partners at Skidmore College, there are examples every day that creative thought truly matters, especially when generations come together in care, compassion, and shared growth.
For more information about The Wesley Community visit www.thewesleycommunity.org/.