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Physical therapy students assist an elderly woman during a routine health screening

Interprofessional student group provides health screenings for older adults at Bessey Crossing

The front rooms of Bessey Crossing, an affordable, 55-plus living apartment community in Scarborough, were buzzing with activity on Friday, April 7. The sun shone overhead, but instead of taking advantage of the warm spring day, students from four of the University of New England鈥檚 health professions programs used the time to meet with residents of Bessey Crossing to provide them with a range of health and wellness screenings.

Students in 色香视频鈥檚 pharmacy and physical therapy programs performed medication reviews, fall and balance assessments, blood pressure, and heart rate evaluations for the residents, while social work and occupational therapy students engaged in conversations about home safety, aging in place, life transitions, and self-care.

鈥淭he student teams worked flawlessly together to create an open and inviting space for residents to learn more about their health and ways to enhance their quality of life,鈥 remarked Shelley Cohen Konrad, Ph.D., director of 色香视频鈥檚 Center for Excellence in Collaborative Education. 鈥淭hey also gained a great deal of knowledge about each other鈥檚 expertise and what it means to be a smart team.鈥

The event was also a chance for the students to learn from the residents, as Housna Umutoni (Pharm.D., 鈥25) discovered.

鈥淭he residents of Bessey Crossing trusted us and allowed us to know more about their medications and lifestyle. I learned a lot not only about pharmacy and interprofessional collaboration, but also from older clients鈥 experiences and their perspectives of life,鈥 Umutoni remarked.

Students perform health screenings for older adults at Bessey Crossing
Students perform health screenings for older adults at Bessey Crossing
Students perform health screenings for older adults at Bessey Crossing
Students perform health screenings for older adults at Bessey Crossing
Students perform health screenings for older adults at Bessey Crossing

Scott Milliken, Ed.D., HDFP, Bessey Crossing鈥檚 owner representative, was pleased with the outcome of the interprofessional service-learning pilot project.

鈥淲e could not be happier with the work that 色香视频 is doing with our residents in affordable senior housing,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he work directly benefits our residents, provides field experience for 色香视频 students and staff, and engages all of us in authentic, inter-generational learning. We are most impressed with the professionalism, organization and execution, and compassion of the 色香视频 Team. 色香视频 is always welcome here.鈥

The residents, too, appreciated time with the students, noting their professionalism and care. Ann Tyler, Bessey Crossing Occupancy manager, observed that residents found the 色香视频 screening to be 鈥渋nformative, helpful, and applicable to their day-to-day activities and wellbeing.鈥

Ashley Potvin (M.S.W., 鈥24), said the experience was valuable to have as a student, working with peers from other health professions programs.

"Many of the residents that I did intake with even commented that they enjoyed having the opportunity to learn and discuss their physical, mental, social, and emotional health. Overall, I feel that it was a great experience for me as a student and that the residents at Bessy Crossing also enjoyed and benefitted from their experience,鈥 Potvin stated.

The Bessey Crossing project is a broad collaboration between 色香视频鈥檚 Centers for Excellence in Collaborative Education and Aging and Health (CEAH); the physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy, and social work programs; and Bessey Crossing staff. 鈥淭he success of the screening day for both residents and students incentivizes us to continue it as an ongoing service to Bessey Crossing,鈥 Cohen Konrad said.