Muskingum News

Muskingum University’s Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program hosted its inaugural Older Adults Health and Wellness Fair on March 2, 2024. The event took place in the University’s Bullock Health and Wellness Complex (BHWC).

Community members ages 65 and over were invited to the free event, which featured activities that provided tips and strategies for productive aging. Family members and caregivers were also welcome to attend and learn more about occupational therapy’s role in helping older adults participate in meaningful activities.

Muskingum MOT students worked with attendees at a variety of interactive learning stations on home safety, adaptive equipment and basic home modifications, fall prevention, driving, energy saving tips to work smarter not harder in daily living activities, maintaining physical activity, and overall wellness.

MOT student Katie McArthur, who will graduate in December 2024, was part of the team leading the adaptive equipment station. “My fieldwork this semester focused on the elderly population, and the fair was a great opportunity for me to build on that. I found myself really connecting with the older adults, and I have discovered that I love working with that population. It opened my eyes to a potential new area for my future, as I’ve spent my prior career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant working in a pediatric setting.”

“The Fair was a win-win for everyone,” commented Director of the MOT Program and Associate Professor of MOT Kim Lawler. “It was full of energy and excitement as students and community members engaged with each other, with attendees trying out equipment and exercises. Educating the attendees about productive and safe aging was a valuable hands-on experience for our students, as they had to answer questions, think on their feet, and put their learning into action. Everyone in the MOT program was excited to provide community members with tips they can use to help live their lives to the fullest. And it was such a great way to help fulfill the community-oriented mission of the BHWC.”

Next year’s Older Adult Health and Wellness Fair will take place on March 8, 2025.

The Muskingum MOT program is a two-year bridge program which prepares individuals with either an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) license or a health-related bachelor's degree to sit for the national certification examination to become an occupational therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT^®). Muskingum’s program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association.