Keeping community seniors healthy, active and informed was the mission for a group of students from the School of Allied Health who hosted a Performance Therapy Health Fair in Fonthill on April 10.
More than 30 first-year students from the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (OTA-PTA) program participated in the drop-in event, which was held at the Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill. Geared to local seniors, the event offered gave students a chance to interact with students and relay information on important health topics and treatment options, focusing on areas related to physical and occupational wellness.
“The goal is to educate seniors on how OT and PT can assist them with their strength and independence,” said Kelly Martindale, OTA-PTA Program Coordinator. “I think it is a very valuable skill for students to interact and have to teach seniors and work on their communication skills and ability to answer questions.”
The experience was part of an assignment for their Clinical Pathology course worth 15 percent of their mark, noted Kelly Martindale, who decided to turn what was originally a hand-in class assignment into a community event three years ago.
“When I first started at the College, it was originally an assignment where they had to make brochures on diagnoses and hand them in to me,” said Martindale. “Then I thought, these are really good and informative, so they should actually be seen by people.”
“We, as OTA and PTA, students, are going to be doing this work out in the community in the future, who better to start the conversation than us,” said student Jen Nguyen.
Nguyen noted that students prepared for the event through coursework, practical labs, and discussions. They researched their assigned topics, and created educational materials to communicate with people of different ages and backgrounds, especially seniors.
“It’s a great opportunity to apply what we’ve been learning in a real-world setting while giving back to the community,” she said. “We find it incredibly meaningful and rewarding to support people even in small ways through education and early intervention as these efforts can have a lasting impact on someone’s independence and quality of life.”
Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant is a two-year diploma program based at the Welland Campus. Students have an opportunity to gain experience working with clients at NC’s Performance Therapy Clinic.
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- Supplied photos
