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Students from the University of New England’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree program recently collaborated on a community outreach project to enhance the safety and wellness of older adults in the Greater Portland area.

The group of four students from the D.P.T. Class of 2024 — Nina Pham, Deanna Rotella,  Julia Symbol, and Michelle Zeltsman — recently completed a scholarship project in partnership with Westbrook Housing Authority (WHA) to improve the safety of sidewalks and breadth of fitness opportunities available at the organization’s Larrabee Woods campus, just minutes from ɫ����Ƶ’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences.

The endeavor showcases the intersection of academia and practical application within the realm of physical therapy. 

As part of the project, students conducted assessments with WHA residents and officials to understand their physical activity and mobility needs. In addressing those needs, the students painted sidewalks at the campus’ main building to improve the visibility of the sidewalks and better differentiate them from the street. 

The group also mapped out three trails around the campus to promote physical activity and provide interactive opportunities for the residents to engage with their environment in the pursuit of whole-body health. 

“This was a fantastic experience in helping us build relationships with a community partner like Westbrook Housing. Our conversations informed us that residents wanted opportunities for increased physical activity, and we were able to convey that directly to Westbrook Housing officials,” Pham said. “This was a breakthrough project to foster a closer relationship with Westbrook Housing and will hopefully create increased opportunities for students to do similar work in the future.”

ɫ����Ƶ has a longstanding relationship in providing wellness services for WHA residents, all of whom are 55 or older. 

In collaboration with ɫ����Ƶ’s Center for Excellence in Aging and Health, dental hygiene students have provided no-cost dental cleanings and consultations for residents at the Larrabee Woods campus. Students from multiple health professions programs have also hosted aging-in-place activities, such as wellness fairs, at WHA locations in the past several years.

Michelle York, supportive services director for WHA, said the partnership is mutually beneficial for both residents and students. She said the students gained invaluable real-world experience by interacting with clients of older age, while the seniors benefitted from the students’ fresh perspectives and as aspiring physical therapists.

“This was a great opportunity for intergenerational learning,” York said. “Our goal is for residents to stay in their homes for longer, and the students were able to hear their concerns and bring forward ideas for doing just that. It’s wonderful that we have space to continue collaborating with ɫ����Ƶ to provide these services because a lot of our residents may not have these benefits otherwise.”

Jennifer Audette, Ph.D., associate professor of physical therapy at ɫ����Ƶ and instructor for the class, said the initiative highlighted the importance of community partnerships in providing experiential education opportunities for aspiring health professionals.

“This was a great opportunity for students to develop leadership skills. They worked together to take on a project, collaborate with a community partner, and see the project through. Our partnership with Westbrook Housing, particularly Larrabee Woods, has resulted in so many great opportunities for students,” Audette remarked.

“With students spending the majority of their time in the classroom, having the opportunity to bring those learnings to residents in our community is invaluable,” said Molly E. Collin, PT, B.S., RYT, adjunct professor in ɫ����Ƶ’s physical therapy program and clinical coordinator for the project. “Not only did the students find this a valuable learning experience, but they witnessed firsthand how they can make a difference in people’s lives and the value of giving back to their local community.”