Meaningful Internship Opportunities in Senior Living

The experience has been one of my favorite things this summer. I enjoyed getting to learn from the finance team, mingling with other departments, attending educational workshops and spending precious times with my resident mentor. Makeda R. Finance Intern from Marymount University

If you think senior living is only about healthcare, think again. At Goodwin Living, many departments and service lines work together to provide high-quality care to older adults on our campuses and in other senior living communities and private homes throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. These teams offer many non-clinical opportunities for interns to learn and make meaningful contributions to our work.

Goodwin Living is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that seeks to support, honor and uplift the lives of older adults and those who care for them. We are the #2 Top Workplace in the D.C. area for 2024. Goodwin Living was also selected as a recipient of the 2023 Top Employers for Interns Award by the Virginia Talent & Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP). You can read the full press release here.

We offer paid, non-clinical internships in the following departments:

Marketing & Communications
Life Enrichment
Brain Health
Finance
…and more!

Paid Internship Cohorts

Through the generosity of donors to the Goodwin Living Foundation, Goodwin Living offers four cohorts of paid internships per year. Two cohorts (summer and winter) are open to the general public. Please look closely at the eligibility criteria listed here to see if you are eligible to apply for a particular cohort.

Location: You will be assigned to one of the three senior living communities in Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia.

See our current internship openings in the Support Services category here.

Summer Cohort

When: The Summer Internship Cohort runs from June to August.
Eligibility: Open to students currently enrolled in any college, university or trade school program.
Applications Open: Late Spring.

Fall Cohort

When: The Fall Internship Cohort runs from September to December.
Eligibility: Open to all Marymount University students, in partnership with Marymount University’s Center for Optimal Aging.
Applications Open: Summer.

Winter Cohort

When: The Winter Internship Cohort runs from December to January, with flexible start times depending on the student’s university winter break schedule.
Eligibility: Open to children of Goodwin Living team members and students currently enrolled in any college, university or trade school program.
Applications Open: Late Fall.

Spring Cohort

When: The Spring Internship Cohort runs from March to May (high school) or January to May (Marymount University).
Eligibility: 8-week internship open to high school students at local high schools in partnership with Communities in Schools. Full spring semester internship open to all Marymount University students, in partnership with Marymount University’s Center for Optimal Aging.
Applications Open: Late Winter.

Unpaid, School Credit Internship Opportunities

Need information about unpaid internships for school credit, clinical placements or university partnerships? Reach out to us.

Benefits of Interning with Goodwin Living

Scroll through the tabs below to see some of the special benefits you’ll receive when you intern with Goodwin Living.

Resident Mentors

older female GHBC resident sits next to young female intern

Interns develop meaningful relationships with residents of our senior living communities and members of Goodwin Living At Home. By sharing stories, dreams and interests, residents and interns can learn from one another’s experiences.

Professional Development Workshops

Attend workshops led by senior leaders in our organization. These sessions are designed to build your workforce skills and offer opportunities for networking. Past session topics include Resume Building, Interview Practice and Public Speaking and Communication.

Hands-On Projects

Make substantive contributions to your team. Past intern projects have included developing and running activities with residents, writing articles for the Goodwin Living blog, creating videos and managing our social media accounts.

Resident Mentors
Professional Development Workshops
Hands-On Projects

Why Should You Join Our Program? Hear from Our Intern Alumni

“Hearing stories from friends who are interns made me realize how different my experience was from theirs. My experience interning at Goodwin had allowed me to meet very welcoming staff members, have a flexible schedule, and interact with residents in a fulfilling way.”
– Melanie B. Brain Health Intern, Virginia Tech

“The staff are super friendly and will guide you on how to bring the best out of yourself.”
– Daniel K., Culinary Intern, Arlington Career Center

“I would say that there’s an opportunity to learn about almost any field here, with the added nuance of working in a senior living care center. They have a really well set-up intern program with resources and multiple people to help us rather than an internship where there aren’t many other interns to interact with or clear work for an intern to do.”
– Katrina H., Marketing & Communications Intern, George Washington University

“Goodwin Living genuinely cares about the well-being and individual needs of each resident which is evident in their tireless devotion. It’s not just a job; it’s an opportunity to contribute to a mission that truly matters. You’ll leave each day with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that you’ve positively impacted the lives of those you care for.”
– Martha D., Life Enrichment Intern, William and Mary College

“It’s an amazing opportunity with many different departments to learn more in depth. You get to experience new opportunities and find new career paths.”
– Jocelyn C., Brain Health Intern, Wakefield High School

Search the Support Services Category in Our Current Openings

Apply for an Internship at Goodwin Living Today!

703.820.1488 Contact Us 4800 Fillmore Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22311

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