ST. ELIZABETH PARTNERSHIP MEANS STUDENTS GET TO
LEARN WHILE HELPING OTHERS
A
new partnership between Mohawk College’s massage therapy program and St. Elizabeth Village in Hamilton is just the beginning of the possibilities. Students treat clients in a new clinic, alongside other clinics at the Fennell Campus and McMaster Hospital, allowing massage therapy students to acquire the necessary clinical hours to graduate while serving a community need. “This is a very different population for students to interact with,” said Chris Owen, a professor of massage therapy. Clients at the St. Elizabeth Village often present with arthritis, mobility issues, or diabetes. Demonstrations in classes and labs can’t fully prepare students, said Owen. “We try to present the range of what students will face but the fact is, the real world can be very complicated. There is no substitute for exposing our students to real people with real issues,” he said. “The warm skills are key — the communication skills to help a client feel comfortable and understand what is being done.” There has been a beautiful connection between students and St. Elizabeth clients, said Maurine Parzen. Now with Mohawk’s faculty of nursing, she is the former associate dean of the justice and wellness program, which includes massage therapy. It was her idea to explore the idea of the partnership after her mother moved to St. Elizabeth.
16 MOMENTUM
“We aren’t having Sunday dinners at our grandparents’ anymore, but exposure to seniors is important. We are hearing wonderful stories of the relationship growing between our students and the residents. There is potential to build on the intergenerational connection. That is such an amazing piece of this.” The ownership at St. Elizabeth offered free space for the clinic and Mohawk invested in renovations and equipment. Former offices have become eight treatment rooms and a reception area. St. Elizabeth residents pay $10 for a massage and the public pays $30. “It’s a great privilege to be here. The clients learn from the students and the students learn from the clients. It’s great to see,” said Stephen Hannes, a part-time massage technologist who oversees the St. Elizabeth clinic. “Many clients are rejuvenated when they leave.”