Field Placement:  Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley
Location: Pleasanton, CA
Preceptor: Carol Garberson
Student Name: Rebecca Beattie
Year: 2008

Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley (SSPTV) is a non-profit organization located in Pleasanton, CA. SSPTV offers a wide variety of free services to seniors in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, and Sunol. The services that SSPTV offers include: case-management, chore-worker registries, family caregiver support, alcohol and drug education and counseling, nutrition and exercise education and classes, health screening, a falls prevention program, and a volunteer Friendly Visitor program.

My work with SSPTV included two major components. First, I spent the majority of my time at SSPTV developing and implementing a walking program (known as the Pleasanton Senior Steps Program) at two adjacent low income senior communities located in Pleasanton. SSPTV asked me to create this pilot program which, if successful, they would expand to other sites. Because this was an entirely new program, I had complete control and was able to make all major decisions myself. For this program, I was under the supervision of Carol Garberson, my official preceptor. I conceptualized the program and met with stakeholders (including people at SSPTV and the site directors and program director at each complex) to gather feedback and further refine the program. Once I had a general program plan in mind, I recruited participants, created walking logs, developed handouts on walking safely, designed a stretching routine, and solicited donations from companies in the area. I was able to work with the president of a local pedometer company to receive high quality pedometers at large discount. I then tested all participants, created appropriate walking routes, and set up times for everyone to walk together as a group. At the end of the program, I collected participants’ walking logs, administered post-tests, and held an awards banquet.

Second, I conducted in home exercise visits with several home-bound seniors, as part of the Pro-Active Balance Program under the supervision of Diane Lacroix (director of Pro-Active Balance). Each client received a personalized exercise routine designed to strengthen muscles necessary for every day movement. The goal was to decrease their likelihood of falling and improve activities of daily living. I visited each client once a week to go through their routine with them and answer their questions. I helped each client with goal setting, and slowly increased the intensity of their routines over time. The Pro-Active Balance Program also included a health education component. Frequently I would be given a handout on oral health, nutrition, emergency preparedness, or a similar topic, and would spend the first part of an exercise session reviewing the information with the client.

In addition to the above responsibilities, I was given an opportunity to shadow employees who work in SSPTV’s other programs, including case management and the nutrition, alcohol and drug education programs. I also had a chance to lead some large group senior exercise classes, and to give two nutrition talks on Vitamin B6 and B12.

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