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Senior Savvy Seedlings was a success, and I am so grateful we had the opportunity to work with this population. Although it was a rocky start in session one, by session three, we had built on our leadership and management skills and worked effectively as program managers to ensure the goals of the program were being met. It feels amazing to have created this program from scratch alongside Brooke and Kiki, and I know we are all proud of how it turned out.

One aspect of session three that I truly appreciated is the participants had the opportunity to teach us. In all sessions, it was mainly us teaching them skills and aiding them in their occupations. However, in session three, the participants had a lot to teach us about cooking and offered their little tips and tricks. It was such a heart-warming and rewarding experience to be able to implement this program, and it was reassuring to know the participants loved everything we did.

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If we were to run session three again, there is not much we would change. For one, we would consider creating food labels to put on the dishes before donating them. Also, we could have gone out into the garden at the beginning of the session to see if there was anything else we could harvest for our recipes. While cooking, the participants would go out when they needed herbs from the garden. An alternative solution could have been visiting the garden as a group prior to the start of cooking.

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Session three went just as we planned and we did not experience many problems. One problem we discussed after delivering the food to the fire station was, we should have created labels for the food so they the recipients were aware of what was in the dishes. Also, we did experience a little difficulty spiraling the zucchini into zoodles; however, Brooke and Karen were able to work through that together.

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Session three was an incredible success, and we are so proud of how this program was received by the participants. To start this session, we, as program managers, offered proper introductions again for ourselves and the participants. We also setup a speaker to play instrumental music which the participants seemed to enjoy in the previous session. Similarly to session two, participants loved the jeopardy game, stating it was such a fun way to review material and improve their memory. Since we harvested the day prior, we were able to get right into meal preparation and cooking. The participants were very focused and engaged on the cooking tasks and spent the time discussing what they were doing and how it was making them feel. Since there were three participants and three recipes, each member took a leadership role in each of the recipes. However, they all helped each other out with tasks and complimented each other on their marvelous pieces. The participant I was working side by side with, Bob, was reminiscing on his past cooking experiences and was bringing his own cooking tricks into the recipe he was creating which enhanced the experience for him.

One of the participants, Deb, brought her own air fryer because she knew one of the recipes we were preparing required us to use one and she wanted to learn how to use it. Although she was pre-occupied with many other tasks, I took the opportunity when she had a free moment to show her how to turn it on, how to lay down aluminum foil in the basket, and how to set the temperature and time. The participants took it into their own hands to begin clean-up, dividing tasks to do dishes, clean counters, and sweep the floor. Although we could not bring the food to North Cottage, we walked all together to the Norton Fire House down the street to donate the food. The group loved this and were observed to be talking, laughing, and smiling during the walk.

Overall, this session was a blast! It was a great experience to cook beside others and donate the final products. The participants were bonding the entire time and were discussing the healthy recipes they had chosen, and it was wonderful to see it all come together at the end.

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Session three began with another game of jeopardy to review material from the first two sessions followed by the session three pretest. After this, we got right into meal prepping and cooking. In session two, we decided one three recipes we were going to recreate in session three: snap pea and radish salad, air fryer crispy green beans, and lemon balm pesto zoodles. Since we harvested in session two, we were able to begin right away. For this session, we had three participants and each participant mainly took one recipe to create. However, they worked together by assisting each other in setup, preparation, and clean up. Once the meals were finished, we walked as a group to donate the food to the Norton Fire House and returned to the TCC to have our final focus group and discussion.

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Personally, I felt as though I was much more confident in this session in comparison to session one. I made sure to speak loudly and clearly so all participants could hear me. I also took initiative in more activities, including helping with QR codes again, aiding participants in pulling snap peas and beans from the arch, and leading the scavenger hunt activity. I also think I did a good job of making our newcomer, Pat, feel welcomed and I was able to address her needs and questions individually.

For this session, Brooke, Kiki, and I were much more prepared and comfortable with our session plan. Before the participants arrived, we made sure to go over the plan and schedule, talking through the order of activities and exactly how we were going to transition between tasks. As program managers, I believe we all stepped it up this week and really came together to run a very smooth and effective session.

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After receiving feedback at the end of the final and third session, participants expressed they would have liked to receive a take-home booklet, similar to session one, for session two's activities so they could practice and apply their skills at home. Knowing this, we could have considered adding a booklet for each session that participants can take home.

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One aspect we could have approached differently as program managers was when one participant spoke up about not wanting to learn about and use Zoom, we should have asked other participants if they would like to continue with the plan of using Zoom. We were slightly taken aback by the participants tone which resulted in us dismissing Zoom for the entire group.

Also, since visiting the garden to harvest was not in our original plan, we could have prepared differently for this session and anticipated going into the garden to ensure we had enough time to introduce and demonstrate the websites we had planned for the session. Although our scavenger hunt was still a success without the websites, they could have been beneficial for the participants to know about for the future but unfortunately, we did not have ample time to review them and demonstrate how to utilize their features.

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As with any program, there were a few things on our agenda that did not go as well. One of the main problems we encountered is when we brought the group back together, we had planned to demonstrate how to use Pinterest and Zoom. However, one of the participants expressed disinterest in doing so because she was familiar with it and wished to spend our time doing something else. Because of this, we did not go over Zoom with the participants.

A second item that did not go well, or go as planned, was we did not have sufficient time to go over and demonstrate to the participants how to use the websites we had prepared. This may be due to us not anticipating going to the garden in session two, however, participants were eager to go out there and harvest for the third session, so we decided to do this prior to administering the scavenger hunts. This also may have been due to participants requesting their individual meets be met, so rather than sticking to the exact schedule, we veered away from the original plan. However, this enabled us to address specific needs of each group member.

Something else that we may should have considered prior to the session was whether apps required personal information for sign-up purposes. Pat, the newcomer I was working one on one with, expressed that she already had too many passwords to remember that she was weary to sign-up for Pinterest and the fall prevention app. As such, I provided her with my laptop and iPhone that she could use with my accounts since I was already signed up. This did not change the activity much, as she was able to learn the same way as if she were doing it on her own devices.

Lastly, the WIFI was a little spotty in the church, so we encountered some problems with apps downloading and loading which took away from the efficiency of our activities.

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Session two went very well! We made many adjustments from session one that increased the efficiency of our program. For this session, we were adequately prepared, as we brought supplies for all types of devices (iPhone, iPad, androids, laptops, and apple watches), ensuring all participants were able to participate fully. We had a great setup for session two, and we offered proper introductions making sure we re-introduced ourselves as well as the participants. We also played music from a speaker, which the participants seemed to enjoy, and it offered a calming atmosphere.

To begin, participants absolutely loved the jeopardy game. They played as a team all together and demonstrated great recall of items discussed in session one. All members participated in the jeopardy game and were thoroughly engaged during the entire game. In this session we had fewer participants which enabled us to work very closely with individuals, allowing us to address their individual needs. As we broke off into groups for each type of device, we sat in between participants and worked one on one with them to go over the apps we prepared as well as questions as they came up. I was working with Pat, a woman who had not attended session one, and she was excited to learn how to use the Health app because she was unaware that she could create her medical ID on there. She also enjoyed learning how to open the various domains on the Health app, including viewing her steps and activity levels and inputting her medications and symptoms. Pat also appeared to enjoy the fall prevention app because if it detects a fall, it immediately contacts the listed emergency contact. She mentioned she had most difficulty with downloading apps because she did not know how to work the app store, so we were able to address this when downloading the fall app and when downloading Pinterest. Other individual needs Pat wanted addressed was how to start a text message with someone else, how to block a spam phone caller, and how to login to her gym account to see upcoming classes. I was able help guide her through these tasks, and by the end she was very confident in her ability to do so at home.

Another item that went very well for us was going into the garden and harvesting. Participants enjoyed picking snap peas, zucchini, beans, and flowers and did so working together. This also allowed them to see what was ready in the garden, so when we began the scavenger hunt activity, they were ready to go. The scavenger hunt also turned out favorably, and participants were able to find multiple recipes on Pinterest utilizing the ingredients they pulled from their individual Ziplock bags.

Overall, this session went great because it consisted of a lot of doing and not just discussing/talking. Participants enjoyed learning how to use their devices to monitor and manage their health as well as how to find recipes for the third session.

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In session two of Senior Savvy Seedlings, we addressed the population's needs within technology, including monitoring safety and managing health. In this session, we began by playing a game of jeopardy to review activities and exercises from session one, followed by our session pretest. To begin the activities, we split the group by type of device (iPhone or android) to tailor the activities to the particular phone types. In our smaller groups, we worked one on one with individuals to guide them through the apps we prepared, as well as addressed their individual needs that they shared with us. For both iPhone and android groups, we aided them in downloading and utilizing health apps (iPhone Health app and android Samsung Health app) which offered them ways to add in emergency contacts as well as update their medical information. Both groups also were instructed to download a fall prevention app (iPhone FallSafety Home– Personal Alert app and android UFall Alert app) where they input their emergency contacts and learned how the app can detect falls and contact their emergency contacts. After, we came together as a group to demonstrate Pinterest and how this can be used for many purposes, including how to find healthy recipes.

Prior to distributing the scavenger hunt activity, the group went out into the garden to harvest vegetables for session three and also to visually see what was growing in the garden. After harvesting, the group came back inside and were provided with the scavenger hunt activity. Each participant was given a Ziplock bag with folded pieces of paper that had garden vegetables listed on each piece. Each member pulled out three to five slips and used their devices to find healthy recipes that utilized the ingredients they pulled from the bag. We then came together to discuss what meals they found and which meals we would be recreating in session three. We concluded with a session two posttest.

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When planning for our next session, there are many actions we plan to take to increase the efficiency of our subsequent sessions. In general, we need to have all supplies and equipment ready to go. For our first session, we should have had the folding chairs upstairs for easy access as well as kneeling pads should have been unwrapped prior to the start of the session. Also, we will prompt the group to introduce themselves to us and to each other to allow for us to learn names and build on the interconnectedness. We also need to improve on projecting our voices, as we need to be aware of individuals who may be hard of hearing.

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Although our first session had many successes, there was also some areas that did not go as well or go as we planned. First, we did not adequately prepare for the number of participants regarding gardening supplies, leaving us with one member who was not able to kneel during weeding and mulching of the garden.

During our introductions, we did not prompt the participants to introduce themselves to us and each other, which resulted in us not knowing their names until later in the session. This resulted in a lack of the interconnectedness our program desires to achieve.

Also, starting off with the fall prevention exercises, we began by just reading through the booklet rather than just starting off with the doing of the activities. Originally, this was how we planned to begin the session and we did not discuss reading through the activities, but as it was our first session, I think we were a little nervous at the start. When implementing the fall prevention exercises, we did not adequately assess participant behaviors and movements, resulting in us being too far away from members who required the most support. Reflecting on this portion of the session, the group member who was hesitant to try stepping over objects may have felt more comfortable if one of us were to stand by her and guide her through the exercise. As program managers, we did not do a sufficient number of repetitions for each exercise, almost rushing through them too quickly.

When we transitioned to the garden and provided participants with the kneeling pads, we received immediate feedback that they may have difficulty standing back up. At this moment, we should have begun grabbing folding chairs or other supports to aid them in standing up, however, Dr. Trudell needed to step in to instruct us to grab the chairs. This was crucial to help the participants stand up off the ground, and we should have been better equipped for the situation. When coming in from the garden, we intended to have the participants perform each exercise again. However, when they did not appear eager to do so, I was hesitant to enforce the plans, resulting in us just discussing the exercises, which, again, took away from the doing of the activities.

In general, I think my group members and I may have rushed through some of the items on our agenda possibly due to nerves or concern for the level of activity in the heat.

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The first session of Senior Savvy Seedlings was very well received by the participants who attended the program. The participants were highly engaged throughout the duration of the session, and appeared to be very interested in the activities and exercises we implemented with them. Our introductions as program managers went well, as we were introduced ourselves as Worcester State Occupational Therapy Graduate students, as well as what the purpose and goals of our community program are. When stating the goal of Senior Savvy Seedlings, we were able to clearly articulate the overarching goals of our program, enabling the participants to gain a better understanding of the program as a whole and what to expect in future sessions.

The gardening activities also went very well in our first session. The participants were very excited to be out in the garden as this is an activity they all found meaningful. The provided knee pads were helpful in aiding participants to kneel while weeding and mulching. When in the garden, the participants were also able to utilize the strength, balance, and energy conservation exercises previously discussed and performed inside. The group members applied the partial squat, stepping over objects, leaning side to side, and pursed lip breathing techniques and occasionally pointed it out themselves when they noticed they were demonstrating one of the exercises.

Another item that went well for our program was the scanning of the QR code to open up the pretest and posttest, as this was a great opportunity for us to preface our technology session and gain some insight into their needs with technology. I was able to go around to each member and teach everyone how to scan the code on their phones, allowing them to learn on their own with me guiding them through. The participants were also very pleased with the fall prevention booklets we had prepared for them to take home in order to practice the exercises at home. One participant even took a copy home for her husband because she revealed he has been experiencing falls more frequently.

As program managers, we were able to help participants connect the fall prevention exercises to their daily functional activities. As OTs, it is important for us to always ensure the activities and tasks we are implementing are occupation based, and I believe my group members and I did a wonderful job of connecting the fall prevention techniques to daily occupations such as gardening as well as activities within their home environment.

Overall, what went well the most was the receptivity and engagement of the participants. They were all engaged throughout the session, asking questions, making comments, and expressed excitement for the future sessions.

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Although there is great room for improvement for Senior Savvy Seedlings, I feel as though our first session went very well and was a great start to the program. I know for myself personally, I have many areas of improvement that I intend to adjust for subsequent sessions. For session one, I felt as though I did a good job of helping lead fall prevention exercises. Also, I jumped at the opportunity to aid participants in scanning the QR codes to receive a baseline for how they are going to perform during our technology session. I was also very pleased with how much the participants enjoyed the fall prevention booklet because I enjoyed putting those together. Lastly, I feel as though I did a great job connecting the exercises to everyday occupations, as well as felt confident in explaining what it is we do as OTs to a participant who inquired what the difference between OT and PT is.

However, I need to improve on being able to project my voice when speaking to the group as a whole, as well as when speaking to the individuals by themselves. During the gardening activities, I was not as involved as I should have been which would have been a great opportunity for me to step in next to a group member and help guide them through tasks or encourage them to utilize the fall prevention exercises we discussed prior to going outside.

Most importantly to me, I need to be more confident in general when instructing the participants during activities in order to achieve the desired plan and outcomes. When we came inside from the garden, I had fully intended to have the participants perform the activities again to instill recall and memorization. However, I sort of backed off this when the participants did not seem eager to do so. For our next sessions, I plan to consider all aspects I personally need to improve on and make the changes for better efficiency of our program.

Regarding our group collaboration, I believe Brooke, Kiki, and I work very well together and are able to make decisions easily with little to no conflict. I feel as though we work effectively and efficiently together, and share responsibilities equally.

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If we were to repeat session one, we would make sure we are adequately prepared by bringing a surplus of supplies to make sure each participant is able to fully participate in all the activities. This is applicable to gardening activities, as well as the fall prevention exercises. In the garden, we did not have enough gardening gloves or kneeling pads for all participants to mulch and weed together, and for the fall prevention exercises, we did not have enough kneeling pads for participants to have their own to step over. In this case, we should have quickly thought to grab a book or other nearby item for participants to utilize.

We would also incorporate assistive technology to aid with gardening tasks, such as long handled equipment and weed pulling devices that make tasks easier to perform. A few of the participants revealed they had their own gardening equipment at home and would have liked to bring their own supplies had they known they would need it. As such, we might consider modifying our flyer to explicitly state the gardening activities planned and add a blurb saying, "bring your own supplies if you would like!"

We would also incorporate music by asking participants what they enjoy listening to and softly play it from one of our iPhones. This could have many benefits such as offering a calming and safe environment, as well as filling the gaps of silence.

As program managers, we must focus more on the doing rather than just explaining tasks to ensure members remain involved and engaged because during explanations, members may become disengaged while listening.