The Faith Lutheran Church hosts Community Adult Day Service, where Oxford's older residents can participate in a variety of activities. (Michael Pickering)
In an effort to highlight the importance of programs for elders in the community, Oxford City Council declared last week National Adult Services Week. Community Adult Day Services is a particular program within Oxford that caters to the elderly and offers Miami University students the chance to help.
"We provide supportive care and programming for older adults with special needs," said Community Adult Day Service coordinator Joan Potter-Sommer.
The service allows older adults a chance to get out of the house. Located on Campus Avenue in the Fellowship Hall of the Faith Lutheran Church, elderly citizens interact socially through activities like reading current events, gardening, making crafts, baking and even playing corn hole.
The advantage of this service being so close to Miami University's campus is the opportunity students have to volunteer. The speech pathology and ideology students use this service as field placement, while others volunteer their time through Greek life.
Dana said this could be beneficial to students who are interested in interacting with people outside of their age bracket.
"Miami students are looking out for a diversity of people besides other students like themselves," Dana said.
Melissa Price, clinical supervisor in the department of speech pathology and audiology, said that approximately five or six graduate students participate at the center for their field study, working with about 12 to 13 elderly residents.
"(The residents) put it up on the calendar that it is Miami student graduate day," Price said. "(Residents) get really excited."
Price explained that the Miami students participate in games and activities with the residents, about two hours a week.
"They play some card games, thinking and interacting games," Price said. She said they even organized a family feud type game show.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Price said that Miami's first lady and university ambassador, Valerie Hodge, attended an open house at the center Sept.21.
"The proclamation (from City Council) recognizes that there is a day service in town that is available to help families and older adults," Potter-Sommer said.
Some of the people that attend this service have Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, Parkinson's disease or dementia.
"It allows families to understand what their options are in caring for someone," said Oxford Vice Mayor Prue Dana. "It may be a condition that can be stabilized. (The families) can find out what they can do at home that enhances that person's life."
The program is funded through Medicaid; the Elderly Service Program, a tax levy in Butler County; as well as privately paying clients.
Community Adult Day Service volunteers are especially needed during the winter. Outings, like going to the mall, require a one-on-one basis with each senior.
"You want their quality of life to be as good as possible, for as long as possible," Dana said.
Contact Potter-Sommer at (513) 523-0464 for more information about volunteering.
Read More
How one professor and her classes are preserving Oxford’s Black history
By Sean Scott | March 20, 2024Jazma Sutton, an assistant professor of history, teaches The Black Midwest (HST 350Q) and Black Women in America (HST 450D) classes. In both courses, she has students working with the Smith Library of Regional History and Miami’s archives to document and preserve Black history in Oxford.
Miami faculty members recount Freedom Summer in new documentary
By Luke Macy | February 25, 2022After seven years of work, “Training for Freedom,” a documentary highlighting Oxford’s involvement in the Freedom Summer of 1964, premiered on PBS Western Reserve on Valentine’s Day.
“Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic”: History in the making
By Alice Momany | August 29, 2021In March 2020, Miami University’s archives launched “Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a collection focused on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.