Independence. Dignity. Peace of mind. 2013 Elderly Services Program Annual Report | Page 5 Butler County ESP Client Proﬁle | Ruth Ruth sll sees him standing silent and sll. He was a paent in the brain damage ward at Longview State Hospital where she was a music therapist. In eight years, the elderly WWI veteran had not responded to a single sound. Now he was salung and standing at aenon aﬅer only one song – The Star Spangled Banner. “It sll makes me cry to think about it.” Ruth said, “That’s the power of music.” Ruth inherited the power of music from her grandfather, a bugler in the US Army during the Spanish-American War. She sll has his bugle and her own memories from six years in the Women’s Army Corps Band. She played for troops across the US and at venues such as the Waldorf Astoria. She even met comedian Jimmy Durante when they performed during Armed Forces Appreciaon Week on the television show I’ve Got a Secret. She shared her love of music and passion for serving at the hospital where she recruited talented musicians to form a band that performed for their fellow paents. The Miami University alumna connued serving others for more than 20 years as a social worker for Butler County, helping people in her home community. She had no idea that one day she’d have a social worker of her own, her care manager Sarah. Severe arthris and a muscle disease have made it impossible for Ruth to stay completely independent in the home where she has lived since 1964. The Butler County Elderly Services Program (BCESP) provides a weekly visit from a homemaker who helps with cleaning and other household chores. Ruth also receives transportaon to medical appointments and emergency medical response service in the event of a fall. The program covered home safety modiﬁcaons including repairing steps, installing a hand rail and pest control. “I appreciate the services so much, “ Ruth said. “It’s just a blessing to be able to stay in my home with their help. I don’t know what I’d do without it.” Ruth values having somebody there when she needs it. “I know Sarah would be here in an instant,” she said. “It’s reassuring to know that there is a person that knows me and knows my needs.” Ruth still enjoys music, whether it be the “singing” her dog Elvis or making music her own . “I miss my clarinet but my hands can’t hold it,” she said . “But I still like to go around whistling those prey old songs.” She knows she can still perform in her home thanks to BCESP.

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Client story for Council on Aging Annual Report for the Butler County Elderly Services Program.

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Independence. Dignity. Peace of m

ind.

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.