Occupational therapy hosts health fair

About 100 people attended an healthy aging fair in Grand Haven hosted by Grand Valley's Occupational Therapy program.

The Healthy Aging in the Community Fair was held July 15 fair at Pottawattomie Park. It was part of a research project to determine if a community health fair is an effective way to provide “aging in place” information to older adults.

Susan Cleghorn, assistant professor of occupational therapy, said most older adults would rather stay in their homes, rather than move to an assisted living facility or nursing home. Aging in place uses a prevention approach to health care with the goal of aiding individuals to continue living in familiar homes and neighborhoods with the help of needed services, she said.

Faculty members and students from the Student Occupational Therapy Association presented educational sessions on home modifications, health promotion and community mobility. The fair was sponsored in conjunction with the Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging.