Tasia leading a meditation session with residents
Simply put, an Occupational Therapist spends time with individuals to find out what they usually do in their day-to-day life and identifies challenges they face. Then they help to find ways to overcome those challenges.
The University of Vermont recently started an Occupational Therapy (OT) training program and Wake Robin is part of their field study component. Tasia Benham, M.S. OTR/L, C-MLD, is their instructor while they are with us. So far, we have had three UVM students do their Wake Robin rounds and there will be one more this winter and another in the spring. One OT student did her 3-month rotation here. Another OT student did her 2-week observational fieldwork with us and requested a return to do her Capstone research, a kind of final thesis.
To support the wellbeing of our residents, Wake Robin offers Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology. These are standard offerings in many retirement communities contributing to a holistic approach to healthcare. They differ in their purposes with OT focused on fine motor movements, hygiene tasks, or improving cognitive abilities. PT is designed to help people perform tasks independently and reduce their risk of falling. A Speech-Language Pathologist can help with speech problems and communication disorders, as well as assessing difficulties with eating and swallowing.
Tasia says the UVM program is a welcome opportunity. She herself had to find a school outside of Vermont as there were no OT training programs in the state at that time. She is now certified as a field-work educator contributing to the professional standards established by UVM in their doctorate-level OT program. She says over her years of work she finds Wake Robin to be the most client-centered approach she has ever experienced. Tasia is part of a team of six full-time therapists at Wake Robin who all share the same approach to their work: we provide health services to our residents and are always aware that “we are in their home.”
