Older Adult Training Tops Kiwanis Meeting
The Carmi Kiwanis Club met January 17. President Katelyne Wolff welcomed all guests and encouraged club members to bring so many guests next week that they will have to set up more tables. Toby Brown was the winner of the 50/50 drawing.
Good News included an announcement by guest Terry Gholson inviting club members to purchase raffle tickets for a quilt to benefit the CWC wrestling team. Frank Barbre, who was celebrating his birthday, was recognized. Sign ups were dispersed for the February 23 Pancake Day. All Good News donations go to assist Cheer for a Cure.
Justin Dartt introduced Cathleen Garner from Wabash Christian Village and Janelle Waters from Wabash Christian Therapy. Cathleen led an interactive talk on “Older Adult Sensitivity Training.” An older adult was defined as anyone sixty-five years and older. Older adults need empathy which Cathleen defined as “the ability to connect to someone.” Older adults struggle with chronic conditions with 92% suffering from one chronic condition and 70% with two chronic conditions.
Cathleen encouraged attendees to wear a pair of badly scratched glasses. She then described the challenges that come with common conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts. Next club members put on rubber gloves stuffed with cotton balls. They were challenged to pick small pieces of candy out of a container. The point Cathleen made was the difficulty associated with arthritis. The final experiment was demonstrated by JC Tinsley who attempted to walk with popcorn kernels inside his shoes to simulate the pain associated with neuropathy.
Cathleen finished her discussion by encouraging attendees to be sensitive to older adults. Make eye contact. Talk directly and slowly. Provide chairs with arms. Avoid using rugs that can be tripping hazards. Cathleen is available to provide an older adult sensitivity training at any local business or organization.
Janelle Waters, a fifteen year therapist with Wabash Christian Therapy, described the services they provide. Those services include outpatient occupational, speech, and physical therapy. They treat all people from young children to the older and frail. Wabash Christian Therapy has a 100% recommendation rating based on surveyed clients. They have hired a new physical therapist assistant to keep up with increasing demands. A physician’s order is needed to make an appointment. They are open every weekday, Monday through Friday.
