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2013 Elderly Services Program Annual Report | Page 5

Butler County ESP Client Profile | Ruth

Ruthstillseeshimstandingsilentandstill.HewasapatientinthebraindamagewardatLongviewStateHospitalwhereshewasamusictherapist.Ineightyears,theelderlyWWIveteranhadnotrespondedtoasinglesound.Nowhewassalutingandstandingatattentionafteronlyonesong–TheStarSpangledBanner.

“Itstillmakesmecrytothinkaboutit.”Ruthsaid,“That’sthepowerofmusic.”

Ruth inherited the power ofmusic fromher grandfather, a bugler in theUSArmyduring theSpanish-AmericanWar.ShestillhashisbugleandherownmemoriesfromsixyearsintheWomen’sArmyCorpsBand.SheplayedfortroopsacrosstheUSandatvenuessuchastheWaldorfAstoria.SheevenmetcomedianJimmyDurantewhentheyperformedduringArmedForcesAppreciationWeekonthetelevisionshowI’ve Got a Secret.

Shesharedherloveofmusicandpassionforservingatthehospitalwheresherecruitedtalentedmusicianstoformabandthatperformedfortheirfellowpatients.

TheMiamiUniversityalumnacontinuedservingothersformorethan20yearsasasocialworkerforButlerCounty,helpingpeopleinherhomecommunity.Shehadnoideathatonedayshe’dhaveasocialworkerofherown,hercaremanagerSarah.

Severe arthritis and a muscle disease have made it impossible for Ruth to stay completelyindependent in thehomewhere shehas lived since 1964. TheButler County Elderly ServicesProgram(BCESP)providesaweeklyvisitfromahomemakerwhohelpswithcleaningandotherhousehold chores. Ruth also receives transportation tomedical appointments and emergencymedicalresponseserviceintheeventofafall.Theprogramcoveredhomesafetymodificationsincludingrepairingsteps,installingahandrailandpestcontrol.

“Iappreciatetheservicessomuch,“Ruthsaid.“It’sjustablessingtobeabletostayinmyhomewiththeirhelp.Idon’tknowwhatI’ddowithoutit.”

Ruthvalueshavingsomebodytherewhensheneedsit.“IknowSarahwouldbehereinaninstant,”shesaid.“It’sreassuringtoknowthatthereisapersonthatknowsmeandknowsmyneeds.”

Ruth still enjoys music, whether it be the “singing” of her dog Elvis or making music of her own . “I miss my clarinet but my hands can’t hold it,” she said. “But I still like to go around whistling those pretty old songs.” She knows she can still perform in her home thanks to BCESP.