SRU occupational therapy program compliments senior center in area
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Activities at the Slippery Rock Senior Center Tuesday, June 30, included games that helped attendees strengthen their balance, stand up and sit down efficiently and retain fine motor skills. The games were provided by doctor of occupational therapy students from Slippery Rock University, who based them off a needs study they conducted with the senior center before the Tuesday session.
Dianne Lesar, of Slippery Rock, said these activities were fun and engaging, and playing games like beach ball bowling helped her understand how her movements contribute to getting around and going from sitting with minimal discomfort. A knee surgery she had a few years ago affected her lower body movement, she said.
“Me, I do have a problem, so it was helpful,” Lesar said. “It was good to show us how to get out of a chair, how to bend down; they told us what they were for and why we were doing them.”
Occupational therapy is an evidence-based practice that aims to help individuals focus on mental and physical health, bridging the gap between the two. Miranda Virone, program director of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at SRU, explained that the practice can help people adapt to the changes in their body that occur as they age.
So, while the senior citizens at the center Tuesday felt like they were playing games and gardening, they were also developing skills that would help them “age in place” — stay in their own homes rather than moving into assisted living.
“All of these participants here are community-dwelling independent older adults, so they need to stay independent to stay in their homes,” Virone said. “A lot of them (wanted) balance and fall prevention, socialization, (among) the needs that they identified.”
Around the Slippery Rock Township municipal building Tuesday, students cheered on their clients, instructing them as they shuffled around cones placed on the ground, stacked cups into pyramids and threw bean bags onto a circular target on the floor. The senior citizens were not the only ones taking part in the games. The students stepped up to the beach ball bowling lane to demonstrate the activity and explain what muscles the game was helping to reinforce.
Erin Hagadorn, a doctor of OT student at SRU, staffed the “Wheel of Fortune” station, where players tossed a beanbag underhand onto a target and got to guess a letter in a phrase based on where their token landed. She said throwing helps with balance because the arms cross to the other side of the body, developing coordination in the torso.
The addition of the phrase and the talking associated with the game also stimulated the players’ minds.
“We’re sneaking in a workout … getting the wheels turning on what to do in their own homes for their joints and prevention of sprains,” Hagadorn said. “This is more engaging and meaningful for social interaction.”
At a table on the other side of the community room, other students discussed gardening with the senior citizens, an activity some of the clients already participated in, but could use help with the physicality of it.
Ryan Zawislak, a doctor of OT student at SRU, said he and his colleagues aimed to help them garden without their joints locking up, including their knees and their fingers. While the activity was based around gardening, Zawislak said occupational therapy relies on having a good client-doctor relationship to provide the most benefit, so it was important to practice the conversational element, too.
“A big part of occupational therapy is being able to interact with clients,” Zawislak said.
The senior citizens who went to the Slippery Rock Township community room during its usual senior center hours Tuesday knew the occupational therapy students would be attending that day, and had contributed to the students’ study prior to the session.
Faith Wells, manager of the Slippery Rock senior center, said the university has collaborated with the Butler County Area Agency on Aging before, but this was the first time occupational therapy had been introduced at the township municipal building. She said that aside from benefiting from occupational therapy, the attendees Tuesday probably also enjoyed interacting with people of a younger age as well.
“It's good for them. They enjoy coming. It keeps them busy,” Wells said of the weekly senior center hours. “We had recreational therapy here a year or two ago, and they met with individuals over a few weeks. I believe there's a couple of them that still keep in touch (with the students).”
According to Virone, the occupational therapy program worked with the university’s Center for Community Engagement, which also provided some funding for supplies that could be used at the two Slippery Rock senior center sessions.
Virone said the sessions at Slippery Rock Township were a two-way deal, where SRU students provided activities with benefits and the clients helped students learn. “It's kind of a reciprocal partnership,” she said.
And the students recognized the value of going into a real environment with the educational tools they have. Landyn Heidelbach, a doctor of occupational therapy student at SRU, said she hopes to work with more organizations like the Area Agency on Aging, to get more experience in the field before graduating in 2028.
Janet Fleming, of Slippery Rock, said she was looking forward to the visit from the occupational therapy students. She said she is constantly thinking about her movements, how to keep herself from discomfort, and the games she played with the students helped her better understand her own body.
Fleming also said the session seemed to help break some of the senior center out of their shells.
“They’re absolutely fabulous. It’s nice to have a different perspective,” she said. “And it’s good that we’re all spread out. The people here usually only stay with each other.”
The Slippery Rock University students had another session planned for the Slippery Rock seniors to take place a week after the one June 30.
