Occupational therapist Stephen Souaid isn’t dedicated to getting his clients at Hannan Center back to work. Instead, he’s focused on understanding the myriad roles in which they engage as older adults.
From parent, sibling, aunt, and grandmother to caretaker, card player, puzzle solver, artist, and more, occupational therapy at Hannan Center helps ensure Detroit’s senior residents age successfully in their homes and stay connected to the vibrant community around them.
Hannan Center believes the region’s adults – 55 and older – deserve to age with respect and a sense of purpose, no matter how many years they’ve got behind them. That’s why it provides a suite of social services designed to counteract the effects of ageism and the unseen barriers of a youth-focused society.
“Without Hannan Center, there would be a significant loss in services for older adults, particularly for those living in older adult apartments,” said Melissa Draughn, director of social services at the center. “I believe we’d see a marked increase in isolation, too.”
Group Therapy
Stephen spends his days at area senior apartment complexes in classes designed for residents living on their own. He’s also an integral part of Hannan Center’s Daybreak program, which provides care for older adults with dementia and respite for their caregivers.
“We’re meeting older adults where they are and with the services they need because those services aren’t available, have a high out-of-pocket cost, or aren’t covered by insurance,” Stephen shared.
Hannan Center provides its offsite occupational therapy free of charge. In group settings, Stephen helps participants increase their physical activity level while answering questions about their durable medical equipment and potential in-home barriers to mobility.
Dementia Care
For Daybreak clients, Hannan Center’s occupational therapy is an added resource in an area that is often underserved. Stephen’s role is to help educate caregivers about how to adapt to dementia as the disease progresses.
“We educate the caregivers on different types of interventions, routines, and activities that engage the person with dementia and ultimately prevent that person from being placed in a nursing home or a memory care unit,” Stephen explained.
Perhaps most important, the driving goal for all the staff on Hannan Center’s social services team is the desire to ensure their older adult clients age with dignity and respect.
Learn more about Hannan Center’s occupational therapy program and other social services by visiting hannan.org/social-work.
See Hannan Center’s creative aging programs here.