One step closer 2B an OTA!

This week officially marks my second year in the OTA program at Durham Tech! I'm feeling an amazing sense of accomplishment, especially after how difficult the previous semester was. I'm also feeling like 2 weeks was not a long enough break considering the amount of work that lies ahead. To be honest, this is daunting for me because when I'm faced a huge amount of work I have a tendency to procrastinate. I'm trying to break this habit by picking away at the work gradually until the work doesn't seem quite as daunting. On a positive note, having clear defined goals gives me something to look forward to, and a challenge to conquer. It's like being a mountain climber....climbing to the summit of a mountain is thrilling, but also a little easier if you know where the summit is! 

Already this semester I have learned about a fascinating service provided to residents at assisted living facilities through "ombudsman." Previously I thought that it was a client's friends and family who stood behind them in case they needed assistance, but who stands with those without outside friends or family to help? According to the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services:

"Long Term Care Ombudsmen serve as advocates for residents in nursing homes and adult care homes (rest homes/assisted living) throughout North Carolina. Ombudsmen receive and investigate complaints made by or on behalf of long term care residents and work for their resolution."

These programs exist all over NC, the United States, and the world! It's nice to know that if a senior citizen is in need of help, there's always an Ombudsman somewhere for them!

Finally, I can't seem to wrap my head around what Fieldwork will be like this semester  Last semester we learned about all the physical and mental maladies that plague the elderly, and when you spend  5 months hearing what's wrong with the population it tends to color your opinions. I only know a few seniors on a personal level, and they are some of the most interesting people that I know, so I'm hoping that my time at Rose Manor will help paint a more complete picture of seniors for me.

So with that, let's start climbing that mountain and see what waits atop!