DSU Students Run Fall Prevention Clinics for Older Delawareans

Delaware State University students are putting their classroom training to work in communities across the state, running fall prevention clinics designed to help older adults reduce their risk of injury and maintain their independence.

Graduate students enrolled in the university’s Master of Occupational Therapy program, along with undergraduate public health students, are bringing their skills directly to community sites. Clinics have been held at locations including Harvest Years Senior Center in Camden and Luther Towers in Wilmington, where students work one-on-one with older adults to spot potential fall hazards and share practical safety strategies.

The clinics are organized in partnership with the Delaware Injury Prevention Team and use a screening tool called STEADI — Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries — an evidence-based approach to fall prevention. Services offered include blood pressure checks and risk assessments. Students have also worked alongside ChristianaCare health care professionals to deliver fall prevention education and resources to participants.

For the students involved, the experience means more than running screenings. It gives them the chance to build real relationships with community members, listen to their concerns, and develop the interpersonal and clinical skills they will need in their careers.

Lillian Gulledge, an assistant professor in the Master of Occupational Therapy program, said the clinics serve a dual purpose. “These community clinics are a great opportunity to provide education about falls to our community while allowing our students the opportunity to develop clinical skills on real people,” she said. “It is much different than learning on a classmate. They have the opportunity to engage with the community and work with other disciplines and professionals while doing very important work.”

MOT graduate student Meadow Watkinson said participating in the clinics boosted her confidence and helped her apply what she has studied about mobility, safety, and independence. She also practiced adjusting her approach based on each individual’s needs and offered guidance participants could use in their day-to-day lives. “The most rewarding part was being able to interact and provide information that could help them stay safe and independent in their everyday lives,” Watkinson said.

DSU student Hadeel Ahmed said some of her most meaningful lessons came from conversations with participants. While her DSU coursework prepared her to conduct balance assessments and recognize fall risks, working face-to-face with older adults gave her a deeper understanding of how those challenges affect people’s confidence and daily routines. “One of the biggest things I learned was the importance of building one-on-one connections with participants,” Ahmed said. “Being able to observe someone experiencing balance difficulties firsthand gave me a better understanding of how these challenges can affect their daily lives.”

MOT student Karaline Gillespie said the clinics have been particularly useful in preparing her for fieldwork. Working with community members helped her grow more comfortable talking with patients and explaining clinical information in plain language. “Our professors do a great job at finding opportunities for us to practice these skills such as the falls clinics, so by the time I am entering fieldwork I believe I will feel confident in my clinical reasoning skills,” Gillespie said.

DSU student Kassidy Willey said her training allowed her to shift her focus during the clinics from the mechanics of conducting assessments to truly listening to participants and tailoring recommendations to their individual situations. “Having that background and training has allowed me to focus less on the mechanics of completing assessments and more on ensuring the clinic experience is client-centered,” Willey said.

As the clinics continue to expand their reach across Delaware, DSU students are gaining experience that will define their careers while helping older residents make better-informed decisions about their own safety and well-being.

DSU Students Run Fall Prevention Clinics for Older Delawareans

Comments