DOWN EAST SENIORS CLUB

The Down East Seniors Club held its Oct. 28 meeting at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. President Stewart Rumley led the meeting. Jim Hackney played for the singing of “God Bless America” and John Tunstall gave the invocation. Dick Paul and Bo Bowen provided humor.

President Rumley reminded the club that the Christmas party will be held at the Washington Yacht and Country Club on Dec. 16.

Rudy Burns introduced James Gaynor as the guest speaker. Gaynor is an occupational therapist (OT) with Occupational Therapy Plus. He is a Beaufort County native, an East Carolina University graduate, and has been an OT for 34 years. The purpose of occupational therapy is to help a person who is unable to perform their normal activities due to illness or injury regain as much as possible the ability to do these activities. Stroke is the most common debilitating illness; it can cause loss of use of one side of the body, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing and difficulty seeing. A stroke victim usually has a few days of acute care in a hospital, four to six weeks of therapy in a rehab center, then occupational therapy as needed at home. The OT goes to the home or workplace and recommends special equipment and changes in the home or workplace to accommodate the patient. He will also provide other needed therapies such as physical and speech. If swallowing is a problem, he will recommend a diet of soft foods. He will also work with caregivers to assist the patient to return to his normal functioning as much as possible.

Ed Bolen won the 50/50 drawing.