Traveling again

Belize, Central America

Belize Market

Mennonites in Belize

My UIndy "Official" Photo

 It's hard to believe, but the time is almost here for me to travel to Belize to complete my research for my Juried Project! For the past two years, I have been working toward, planning, developing, and yes, praying for, this event. In one week, I will be traveling to Belize with a group of 25 entry level PT and OT students, faculty, alumni, and post-professional students for a cross-cultural learning experience. I actually have three roles on this trip: I am supervising the fieldwork of two OT entry-level students, I am completing the Post-Professional Seminar in International Practice course (a mix of cultural competency and experiential learning) and, most importantly, I am conducting Fall Prevention research in partnership with HelpAge Belize, a private, non-profit agency that works in several countries around the world to assist older adults in achieving and maintaining independence, and works with Belize's Ministry of Health for that purpose. Toucan Educational Programs is our on-the-ground support service to keep us organized, traveling in the right direction, and not committing too many cultural gaffes. I could not do this without TEP and Rhondine, their capable Director.

Selfie with Candy at AOTA Conference

What will I be doing while there, you might ask? I have developed a fall prevention program based on the best evidence available in the literature, condensed into a two-session format and written with health literacy and cultural relevance in mind. I, my advisor Candy, and four OT students will conduct fall prevention classes, and then, on the second day of the intervention, visit the homes of the participants to conduct home hazard assessments (The rest of the group will be working in other clinical locations). For the research, I am using a questionnaire before and after intervention to measure the increase in awareness of fall risks. We are also completing a fall risk screen (questionnaire on fear of falling and three balance tests - standing, walking, and sit-to-stand endurance) prior to the class, and a brief interview after the home visit. We will be doing this in three locations (Belmopan/San Ignacio, Hopkins, and Belize City) throughout the country. When I come home, I will compile both quantitative and qualitative data into a nifty Juried Project, similar to a dissertation, and hopefully will be able to invite you all to my defense/presentation of said project by December (and the party afterward!).
Mostly, though, I really hope to be able to help the older adults of Belize. The country is a mix of over a dozen cultures, including Maya, Mestizo, Garifuna, and Mennonite (yep!), with English as the primary language and multiple languages and dialects spoken by the 330,000 inhabitants spread sparsely over a small area that includes Caribbean coast, mountains, and jungle. Health care, by American standards, is very limited. Those who can afford to, seek medical assistance in Mexico or Florida. Those who can't, make do with the limited government hospitals and clinics. I found very little research looking at the plight of older adults in the region, and even less on what is being done about it. Untreated chronic conditions abound.

El Salvador, 2008

I have had a longstanding interest in Central American needs, dating back to my first trip there in 1997. I am so very excited to begin this project, and what I hope will be a continuing relationship to improve health care in at least some small ways for this and other under-served populations. I leave July 25, and return August 9. I hope to use this space to journal my personal experiences, and I hope you'll come along (virtually!) with me!