
UTC occupational therapy students participated in a SETAAAD/UTC community outreach event at the Whitwell Senior Center on Monday, Jan. 27. Photo by Angela Foster.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is expanding its reach in Southeast Tennessee by partnering with the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (SETAAAD) to bring evidence-based programs to senior centers across the region.
The SETAAAD serves older adults, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers across a 10-county region in Southeast Tennessee—Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie—offering services that include in-home care, transportation and nutrition programs. The agency plays an essential role in helping these populations live independently and maintain a high quality of life.
The UTC interprofessional initiative is being spearheaded by Dr. Kristi Wick, UC Foundation assistant professor in the School of Nursing and Vicky B. Gregg Chair of Gerontology; Dr. Erin Melhorn, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy and the program’s doctoral capstone coordinator; and Dr. Cathy Scott, associate professor in the Department of Social Work and director of the Bachelor of Social Work program.
“We have enjoyed a great collaborative relationship with the Area Agency on Aging for years now,” Wick said. “Being able to help meet their needs and foster student development and faculty engagement has been a real asset to this partnership.”
“This partnership blends the resources of SETAAAD with the expertise of UTC professors and students,” said SETAAAD Director Stacie M. Burgess. “Together, we will deliver essential services, build stronger networks and offer older adults the tools they need to live healthy, active lives.”
Wick said SETAAAD approached UTC late last year to help implement evidence-based programs—which are designed to promote healthy lifestyles, prevent disease and improve physical activity levels. An example of an evidence-based initiative is Bingocize®, a fun and interactive 10-week program that combines bingo, exercises and fall prevention education.
Melhorn said the Department of Occupational Therapy has long been involved in community outreach programs and—beginning the week of Jan. 27—occupational therapy students will lead Bingocize® classes during twice-weekly visits to Whitwell Senior Center (Marion County), Meigs County Senior Center, Senior Lighthouse Center of Spring City (Rhea County) and Rhea-Richland Senior Neighbors (Rhea County).
“Our OT students have been doing balance classes in the community for older adults for the past eight or nine years, but we’re really excited to get more involved in some of the rural communities,” Melhorn said. “We talk a lot about health literacy and working with people who don’t have the resources that maybe the students are used to seeing in this area, so this provides an opportunity to teach and to practice and to learn.”
Melhorn added that the experience will be invaluable for students as they prepare for their careers.
“As they learn to talk to more diverse populations, they’re gaining confidence as clinicians and really learning the impact that all of the health disciplines can have—no matter where you go,” she said.
SETAAAD has a wide array of programs available covering topics such as chronic disease management, physical activity and caregiver support. UTC will be central to both delivering and expanding those programs, offering valuable learning opportunities for students from various disciplines.
“From a social work perspective, our curriculums are applied, so this provides an excellent opportunity for students to observe and participate in hands-on social work,” Scott said. “It’s about getting into these communities and getting their feet wet. It’s boots on the ground in doing the work.”
Wick said the programs offered through this SETAAAD collaboration will align with UTC’s soon-to-be-unveiled mobile health vehicle project. The mobile health unit, which will travel to underserved communities across the region, will bring these evidence-based programs to senior centers and offer both primary care services and preventive care options.
“We are excited to see how the mobile health unit impacts communities as it will provide an alternative to those who may not have access to traditional health care settings,” Burgess said.
“Once the unit arrives and we start going to those senior centers in the 10 surrounding counties, what we’re doing in this collaboration literally works hand-in-hand,” Wick said. “I’m a firm believer in the role partnerships play in the community. We learn from each other and we become resources for each other.
“Anything that UTC can do to support our neighboring communities—whether through service, helping bolster the workforce or problem-solving—is an opportunity to share our knowledge. It’s also an opportunity to learn from the community.”
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Occupational therapy student Riley Vallot, center, and other students in the UTC OT and social work programs traveled to the Whitwell Senior Center in Marion County.