Volunteering at a Nursing Home in Rennes

When I learned about the collaboration between CIEE and a nursing home in Rennes, I was excited and reassured. 

As a student on the pre-health track, I was very hesitant to do this study abroad program because I feared it would take time away from my patient-care hours and required science courses. However, volunteering at the nursing home allowed me to experience healthcare in a different country and to meet completely new demographics of French speakers, opportunities I wouldn’t have had if not for studying abroad. 

Every Thursday, I arrived at the nursing home around 10:45 to help the activity directors prepare for the activity of the day. These consisted of crafts, games, music, and visits from the neighboring nursery children. I spent about an hour each week doing activities with residents in either the skilled care or dementia units of the nursing home. While I was there to help with coloring or cutting paper, the most meaningful part of my experience was getting to know the residents. I was quite nervous on my first day at the nursing home because I worried the older residents would have trouble understanding my accented and sometimes imperfect French. However, I found that the residents were very interested to learn that I was from the United States, and about my experiences in their country. I often shared differences in recipes, traditions, and culture between the two countries. They laughed when I talked about the rude Parisians, and when I told them that my favorite French food was the raw shrimp. After learning that I was a pre-health student, one man was excited to tell me about the five years he spent in Washington D.C. working for the National Institute of Health. 

It was extremely heartwarming to form relationships with the residents. I work as a nurse’s aid back home, and I often feel that I don’t have enough time to sit and visit with my residents due to the busyness of the job. This volunteer experience allowed me time to do just that. One of my favorite memories is spending time in the dementia unit. The residents were so loving and open to visitors, and not once did I feel as if my language barrier was hindering. I realized quickly that warm smiles and physical affection needed no language, and I spent every visit to the dementia unit holding hands with some very lovely ladies. 

While volunteering there, I also had the opportunity to meet a much younger age group. By chance, I chose to volunteer on the day of the week that the children from “la crèche” came to visit the residents. Situated just next to the Les Rosaries, this nursery collaborated with the nursing home every week by bringing a group of toddlers to partake in music, painting, and crafts. I remember sitting next to a three year old boy who, when I first spoke, stared at me quizzically before deciding that my American accent was tolerable. We then talked about chicken and goose stickers. The residents adored the nursery children, and it was very special to partake in this intergenerational collaboration. I remember calling my mom after my first day with both the residents and nursery children and telling her, “It was my two favorite groups of people in the same place.” Being able to visit with both seniors and toddlers really helped me to improve my French communication skills, as I had to slow down and enunciate more than I did in my day-to-day life in Rennes. On top of this, I also had the chance to spend time caring for children and adults, which further encouraged me to continue on the healthcare path. 

College years are busy, and it can be hard to slow down and appreciate small moments. To have the time to sit with seniors and toddlers each week, while speaking French and coloring, is rare. I would highly recommend this volunteer opportunity to anyone, regardless of career path. It was a very beautiful human experience, one that I will carry with me for a long time. 

Harper McInroy

St. Olaf College

CIEE-Rennes Liberal Arts Spring 2026