Center for Successful Aging InternAt — CSUF - Center for Successful Aging

The Center for Successful Aging offers fitness and wellness programs to adults over the age of 50. The program is a national leader in training and equipping students to work with older adults at every functional level in an exercise setting.

Tasks include but not limited to: 

Students will be expected to perform the following duties:

• Demonstrate competency by leading warm-up, cool-down or other components of a class as assigned by the instructor.
• Report safety and cleanliness problems with the facilities and equipment. Help resolve when appropriate.
• Keep a log of hours and activities performed during each class.
• Assist with room set-up and put-away for each class.
• Enforce general exercise guidelines and safety factors in fitness all classes.
• Apply appropriate spotting techniques.
• Apply effective exercise set-up on machines and equipment.
• Complete CPR/AED certification by the end of the semester.
• Assist instructors with participant pre-post physical assessments. 

Training:

All interns in the Center for Successful Aging will complete a 3-week training period prior to working directly with clients. Through the completion of this internship, students will learn:

1. To develop and communicate programming structured around the principles of whole-person wellness to help older adults maintain a lifestyle that is of the highest quality.
2. To understand and apply the six dimensions of wellness into wellness and physical activity programming targeted to older adults.
3. To learn how to conduct a variety of clinical and field-based health, physical, and functional assessments on older adults.
4. To learn teaching methodology, including group dynamics, feedback, reinforcement, empowering others, and designing and leading individualized and group exercise programs for the 50+ population.
5. To learn human relation skills for specific needs related to gender and age differences culturally and ethnically diverse populations.
6. Introduce students to Kinesiology - related occupations.
7. Provide hands-on experience in a professional setting.
8. Preparation to begin the process of securing employment in a kinesiology or related occupation.
9. Students will learn how to utilize occupational job search banks upon graduation.
10. Provide students with additional internship and employment opportunities when applicable.

Learning Outcome:

1. Gain work experience directly related to the major and an occupational setting.
2. Obtain techniques and knowledge related to professional preparation and personal development.
3. Gain broader knowledge for use in a real world occupational setting (culture, society).
4. Understand current trends in the workforce arena locally and nationwide.
5. Understand the interview process and its importance to the hiring process.