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Occupational Therapy Students at Shawnee State University Work with Senior Home Inspection Program in Ross County

            Shawnee State University’s Master of Occupational Therapy students are working with the Senior Home Inspection Program (SHIP) program in Ross County to provide home safety to seniors 60 years of age and older serving 106 people since October 2007 with a waiting list of more than 30 people.
            SHIP team members were awarded the 2008 Community Service Award from the Area Agency on Agency (AAA-7) and the 2008 Outstanding AAA/Provider Partnership of the Year award from the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The idea for the Senior Home Inspection Program was developed originally by Lt. Dale Gillette, retired from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office.
            “They are looking at the home for physical hazards that could be a potential risk factor and they are also doing an evaluation through observation and interviews that person’s functioning,” said Dr. Christine Raber, associate professor, Master of Occupational Therapy program in Health Sciences. “Usually, when a fall occurs in an older adult, it is a combination of factors, maybe dizziness, fatigue and something in the environment like the corner of a rug that they trip over and fall.”
            Students work with the Ross County Fire Association, Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Area Agency on Agency, Department of Job and Family Services, the Ross County Senior Citizen’s Center, Chillicothe Police Department and Southern Care Inc. Each agency provides their unique services to seniors, such as home security and fire safety inspections to help seniors safely age in their homes.
           The students provide a home safety inspection checking that rugs are secured, nightlights are working, bath mats are in place and other potential physical problems that may cause problems. Students in the master of occupational therapy program have been working with SHIP twice a month since the program began in 2007.
            A home security assessment is provided to check lighting, locks, windows, power cords, clutter and install emergency beacons. Many items are provided to the seniors such as bath mats, non-stick rug tape, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, nightlights, power strips, batteries, flashlights and aging services.
            “Grant money is what helps us provide all these things for free,” Raber said.
            The year-round program is funded with grants from the Adena Health Foundation and the David Mead Massey Foundation. The state of Ohio has a fire safety program that provides smoke detectors.
            Scioto County officially opened its SHIP program in June.


 
The Master of Occupational Therapy students at Shawnee State University travel to Ross County to provide services for the elderly through the SHIP program twice a month. In the photo, the students are, in front, from left, Sarah McGraw, of Minford, Austin Clyse, of Ironton, and Lauren Fenske, of Dublin. In the back from left, are Bobby Byrd, Wheelersburg, Janelle Iadanza, of Canton, Betty Dyer, of Firebrick, Ky., and John Hancock, of Portsmouth.