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Archive for category: Original Posts

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COPING WITH COVID – Functioning in Times of Uncertainty

COVID-19 has had an impact on us all. The Solutions For Living, FunctionAbility and Social Work Consulting Group Team discuss how to keep functioning during the COVID crisis. Strategies and discussion include working from home, setting up routines and handling issues when meeting online.

Visit our YouTube page to learn more in our Coping with Covid series.

About the Experts:

Brenda Power Ahmad, BSc (OT), BSc (Hons Psych), OT Reg. (Ont.), – Brenda is a member in good standing of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). She obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree in 1999 in Occupational Therapy from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor’s of Science (Honors) degree in Psychology in 1996 from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Brenda also completed post-secondary education in the fields of Criminology and Linguistics. Brenda has been practicing occupational therapy since 1999 in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario. She has extensive experience working with people of all ages with a variety of developmental and physical disabilities and works mainly with clients who have complex orthopedic, psychological and brain injuries. Brenda is trained in administration of the AMPS and the PGAP program and is a Canadian Certified Canadian Life Care Planner. She has completed additional training in catastrophic assessment through the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators and has successfully completed the C-CAT Certification exam. Brenda sits on the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Brain Injury Association and assists in the running of their Annual 5k By the Bay fundraiser. As Vice President of Clinical and Community Partnerships in one the largest rehabilitation firms in Ontario, Brenda is responsible for training and mentoring other therapists and also leads the Catastrophic Assessment (CAT) program at FunctionAbility. Brenda maintains an active social media presence and co-hosts an educational video series called OT-V which aims at educating the public about the various roles of her profession.

Leanne Shapiro is a speech-language pathologist (S-LP) –  Leanne is registered with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPO). She currently holds the title of Director of Speech-Language Pathology Services at FunctionAbility Rehabilitation Services. She mentors Speech-Language Pathologists in the practice and oversees quality assurance initiatives. As well, she continues to assess and treat clients. Her current clinical case load consists of individuals who have speech, language, fluency, swallowing, and cognitive-communication deficits. She works with clients and families to facilitate functional independence.

Lynne Harford, BA, MSW, RSW, D.VATI – Lynne is a Registered Social Worker, Director of Pediatrics and a Clinical Supervisor with The Social Work Consulting Group. She obtained a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Glendon College-York University. Prior to her university studies, Lynne pursued a career in business and received a Marketing Administration Diploma from Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology. In 2013, Lynne achieved her designation of Art Therapist graduating with an advanced diploma in Art Therapy from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute.

Lynne has had an extensive work history in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining The Social Work Consulting Group in 2008, she was employed at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) where she spent five years providing clinical social work services to children and their families in the Trauma Program. Throughout her career, Lynne has been an active member in the larger community participating in various committees as well as presenting at a number of community based, insurance and legal conferences. Other areas of specialization in which Lynne has focused and devoted her practice to include, acquired brain injury in children and youth, acute and chronic illness, domestic violence, separation/divorce and issues related to grief and loss. Lynne is both a therapist and advocate who is committed to enriching the lives of children and adults in the aftermath of physical and emotional trauma.

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Building a Better Dummy

Check out this interesting article care of CBC News that discusses how the traditional design of crash test dummies may be the reason why it is more likely for a female to sustain serious to fatal injuries in an automobile collision and how “building a better dummy” may be the key to resolving this inequality.

CBC News:  Why life-saving improvements to car safety have benefited men more than women

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Nutrition Month O-Tip of the Week: Simple Swaps for Sugary Drinks

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of March, Nutrition Month, our O-Tip series will help you find simple ways to improve nutrition in every meal!

We all know water can get boring sometimes –but there are some great ways to make it a little more exciting, without turning to sugary drinks!  Try swapping pop or your other sugar-filled favourite for mineral water with slices of citrus fruit, hot water with lemon, or water that is infused with watermelon, cucumber or berries!  These delicious swaps are flavour-filled and better for you!

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What is a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)?

Guest Blogger:  Marie Phillips HBA, RRC, CFDS
Marie is a licensed financial planner with IPC Securities Corporation (CIPF member)

It is tax time…are you eligible for, or have you considered, contributing to a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)?  

Anyone with a disability, or who has a family member with a disability, or who works with people who are disabled can attest to how expensive solutions for living can be.  Medical equipment, assistive devices, therapy, home and vehicle modifications, and care can cost thousands to hundreds of thousands over a lifetime.  It is important that people with disabilities consider all the financial options available and try to “maximize any freebies” if they can.

A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) helps individuals with disabilities save for their retirement on a tax-deferred basis, with the added boost of federal grants.  Learn more about RDSP’s in the following infographic care of IPC Securities Corporation and contact a financial advisor to discuss solutions available to you.

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Caregiving in Canada

According to recent research over eight million Canadians act as a caregiver to a family member or friend, and these numbers are expected to grow with time.  The following article care of the Hamilton Spectator provides an overview of the research compiled in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and discusses the rising demand for home care providers.

Hamilton Spectator:  Report highlights growing burden of care for seniors

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Nutrition Month O-Tip of the Week: Put Away the Peeler

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of March, Nutrition Month, our O-Tip series will help you find simple ways to improve nutrition in every meal!

If you’re looking to get the most out of the fruits and vegetables you eat look no further than the skins.  Though some are not edible many are, and the skins (or peels) often contain the most nutrients as they are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants!  So go ahead and enjoy everything your fruit and veggies have to offer – just be sure to wash them thoroughly first!

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Six Simple Ways to Improve Nutrition As A Team

Julie Entwistle, C.Dir. (c), MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

It is no secret that obesity is on the rise across North America.  In fact, a 2014 study shows that obesity now accounts for 8.6% of youth and 25% of the adult population.  (Després, Alméras, & Gauvin, 2014)   The leading causes of this “obesity epidemic” are sedentary lifestyles, lack of physical activity and poor nutritional choices.

With the stressful lives being led by our generation, taking time to prepare and bring healthy lunches and snacks to work is difficult.  Yet, without a healthy snack or lunch, the tendency is to purchase food that is not healthy, or to under-eat which, believe it or not, can also cause obesity as our body works to “hold onto” every calorie in fear of starvation.

Employers may ask “why do I care if my team is eating unhealthy”, but the answer is obvious:  a healthy workforce is a productive workforce and workplace absences for health-related problems (including obesity, heart disease, diabetes etc) are hugely disruptive.

Here are a few suggestions that can be implemented in the workplace to help improve the health of your staff and organization:

  1. Schedule Regular Healthy Pot-Luck Lunches — choose a day of the week and have each person bring in a healthy lunch item for a team-building activity.
  2. Bring a Colleague a Lunch — people are more likely to prepare healthy meals for others than for themselves, so capitalize on this and arrange for “bring a colleague a lunch week” and see the efforts people will go to in order to promote the health of a colleague.
  3. Recipe of the Week — each week choose a member of the team to share make their favourite healthy meal or snack and bring it in to share with the team.  Have them send each member a recipe via email for them to make on their own.
  4. Education Opportunities — bring in a nutritionist, dietician or health coach to speak to the team about how to create healthy meals and snacks to help fuel their day at work.
  5. Brown Bag Week — encourage the team to have a “brown bag” week.  Eating out can lead to unhealthy choices and lack of portion control.  Bringing your own lunch can help to ensure you are getting the nutrients you need and fueling productivity the entire day.
  6. Russian Lunch Roulette — like secret Santa, have everyone bring a balanced lunch and randomly select who gets what lunch.  It always tastes better to consume something made by someone else, so people should enjoy the surprise lunch they end up with.  Of course, plan ahead for any allergies/food requests and ask people to put sauces/condiments on the side to be added only if desired.

In the end, lead by example.  Employers have the ability to create opportunities that can help their workforce to engage in healthy habits.  Use the strength of your organizational alliance to bring people together to help them achieve healthy goals.  Everyone will benefit, including the organization.

 

Previously posted August 2015

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Intimacy Following Injury or Illness

Sexuality is an incredibly important part of being human. Yet, when we are injured, ill, or suffering from physical, cognitive, emotional or behavioral difficulties, this too can suffer.

The following article, care of the Neurology Centre of Toronto, discusses some commonly reported sexual issues that occur after brain injury.  If you have issues with sexuality after an injury or illness, know that this can be common and can be improved.  Contact an Occupational Therapist, we can help.

Neurology Centre of Toronto:  Sex after Brain Injury: What does this look like for me?

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Nutrition Month O-Tip of the Week: Make Room for Veggies in Every Meal

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of March, Nutrition Month, our O-Tip series will help you find simple ways to improve nutrition in every meal!

A simple way to improve nutrition is to increase your vegetable intake.  Vegetables are nutritional powerhouses full of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to thrive.  Increase your veggie intake by ensuring you include them in every meal and/or snack. 

Some helpful examples include:

  •         Adding spinach or kale to a breakfast smoothie
  •         Adding spinach to your eggs
  •         Protein-packed salads as a meal for lunch or dinner
  •         Substituting veggie noodles (zucchini, spaghetti squash or sweet potatoes) for pasta
  •         Substituting cauliflower for rice or pizza crusts
  •         Using lettuce instead of traditional wraps
  •         Carrot sticks and hummus as a snack
  •         Kale chips instead of regular potato chips as a snack

How do you include vegetables in your meals?  We’d love to hear your delicious and nutritious suggestions!  

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Provider Consent in Health Care – No Also Means No

Julie Entwistle, C.Dir. (c), MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

In my previous blog, “Client Consent in Health Care — No Means No,” I spoke of the importance of client consent.   No means no.  But what is often forgotten in health care, is that consent goes both ways.  While a client has the right to “choose their provider,” this just means they can decline to be treated by, say, me. Or the next person.  But that doesn’t mean they can go down a random roster of professionals to find the best fit.  Why?  Because their ability to “choose their provider” is trumped by the provider also being able to “choose” them as well.

There are three main situations when a provider may say “no” to a client:

Skills and Availability – The provider would be expected to decline if they lack the skills, knowledge, or expertise (“the competencies”) to treat the clients’ presenting problems.   Taking on a client outside their skillset is unsafe for them professionally and for the client and their outcomes.  This also applies to them already having a full complement of clients such that they don’t have the space to do the work within what is needed or expected.

Conflict – Providers cannot consent to provide services to someone if this places them in a conflict, which can happen if they know the individual, or if being their provider would violate an employment agreement or contract (i.e. if you meet them at Company A, you can’t then work with them at Company B).  If the provider indicates a conflict, even if it seems minor to others (i.e. “I knew them in high school”), this must be respected.  Note that the nature of the conflict does not need to be disclosed.  Saying “I am in conflict” is enough.

Safety – The provider can also decline if providing services would be unsafe for them (physically, emotionally, environmentally).  While some jobs are inherently unsafe by nature, health professionals are not required to put themselves at risk when working.  This is especially true in the community where we are isolated and not protected by the surroundings of say a hospital or clinic space, where there are others (and buttons) to aid us quickly if needed.

As I said before, consent is a deal-breaker.  Always.  As occupational therapists, there are rules, laws, and regulatory matters to consider before taking on any client.  Working with vulnerable and exposed people (emotionally, mentally and physically) requires providers to take consent seriously and this goes both ways when clients choose us, and when we choose them.