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Archive for category: Solutions For Living

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Safe Travels

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

I am fortunate in my life to have vacationed to some pretty great spots.  But my favorite remains our trip to Alaska in 1999.  We travelled in August when the Ontario summers were hot and humid, and the air in Alaska was 16-18 degrees (Celsius) – clean, crisp, and fresh.  Alaska is beautiful.  It has mountains, oceans, wildlife, great people, and you can’t help but feel small when watching a glacier, three miles high, calving off chunks larger than your cruise ship.  We hiked, biked, toured the local shops, and took the White Pass and Yukon Railroad along the gold rush trail back into Northern Canada.  We walked a glacier and flew in a seaplane along the fiords.  Incredible.

But my favorite part of all?  We travelled with my grandparents, both disabled and in need of our help to fully enjoy the experience.

My grandfather was diagnosed with polio in 1946.  He spent three years in hospital and rehabilitation, and was discharged with “Canadian crutches” having no muscle in his legs or buttocks.  His bones were essentially stilts, with some active tendons that would let him swing his legs through and lock his knees so he could mobilize.  He had lots of falls walking this way, most resulting in a broken something.  My grandmother was physically healthy, minus some arthritis, but suffered from hearing loss.  My grandparents had always talked about going to Alaska and thanks to my parents, who included us in the experience, we were able to make that happen.

Travelling with a disability is not easy.  It requires planning, a supportive attendant, and an open mind.  Our cruise ship was “accessible” which turned out to be a blanket term for “we try”.  After all, nothing can be fully “accessible” as each disability is different, requiring varying levels of accommodation.  Because my grandfather could transfer to standing, and was tall, he needed things higher – toilets, chairs, beds.  Well, when they make things “accessible” they often lower them – to accommodate a wheelchair user who does not stand to transfer.  Walking around a cruise ship deck (slippery from damp sea air) was not safe for my grandfather, so he would use his scooter most of the time.  But the best was the gangways.  We would dock in the morning, and the gangway was nothing more than a simple bridge.  Easy for a scooter to manage.  Well, six hours later, the tide comes in and the gangway becomes a steep incline, completely unmanageable by scooter.  We didn’t realize that until we were at the bottom looking up.  We had packed a manual wheelchair as well, so we were able to move my grandfather into that, some burly men essentially carried him up the steep incline (not safe, but the boat was leaving regardless), and another group of men carried the scooter.  We managed, but we had help and a cruise line that was interested in providing some customer service.

March break is approaching and for months my clients have been asking me about travelling with a disability.  I enjoy these discussions because I do believe that anything is possible – but here are some pointers:

1.    Book the trip with a travel agent who specializes in disability, either by interest or circumstance (some have disabilities themselves), if you can.  These agents understand that “accessibility” is not an inclusive term, and with personal experience, or feedback from other patrons, they can customize the trip to meet the needs of your unique situation.  Check out www.accessholidays.ca as an example.

2.    Planning goes a long way.  Send pictures of your equipment, measurements, and get pictures and measurements in return.  Disclose the nature of your disability if you are comfortable with that, and be clear about what you can and cannot do.

3.    Travel with an attendant.  On our Alaskan trip there was a man from our town also on the boat who had a mobility impairment.  He did not have an attendant with him and was constantly asking other patrons to help him.  They were willing to comply, but at times his needs were not met, and it would have been best for him and the other travellers if he had someone with him who understood these and was trained to assist him with the same.

4.    Look at all your equipment options.  Can you rent something smaller or lighter that might be easier to lift, will fit into narrower places, or can you rent devices when you arrive?  I just provided a client with photos of devices, different from the ones he uses daily, that he could consider renting to facilitate his upcoming overnight to a waterpark with his children.

5.       Become informed.  Check out the government resources www.travel.gc.ca. Did you know that in Canada, if you have a disability and are flying domestically, you may be eligible for extra seating, support, or your attendant can fly for free: (Westjet or Air Canada )?  Or that Easter Sealsoffers a Disability Travel Card for buses and trains (Easter Seals)?  Also, if you have a disability and require someone to assist you through an airport to the gate, or at the gate through security and customs, there are special passes that can be obtained for this.  In Florida there is a rehabilitation program for people with spinal cord injuries that includes “project airport” and this takes wheelchair uses through an airport, onto a plane, and helps them understand how they can successfully manage this despite a physical impairment.  Many magazines (Abilities for one) often has articles on accessible travel and these highlight many different places that are great to visit, and some of the things to think about before you leave or when you arrive.

I miss my grandfather dearly but am blessed to still have my grandmother in my life.  Our trip to Alaska served many purposes – we were able to see a beautiful part of the world, my grandparents got to fulfill a travel dream, and I made memories with them that span far deeper than any photograph.

Safe travels!

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March Break Awaits! How to Survive The Holiday Stress

March Break is less than a week away and for many it’s a time to escape winter and head down South for a relaxing getaway with the family.  Sunny beaches and warm weather await!  But first, you have to get there… and getting there is often the hardest part!  Between possible missed flights, delays, long waits, and lost luggage your vacation might have stressful times before it can begin.  The following from Everydayhealth.com discusses how to survive some of the most common travel stressors.

While you’re there, check out Everyday Health’s Healthy Travel Center for tips on what to pack and how to stay healthy while you’re away.

Everyday Health:  Stress Management Strategies for Travel Mishaps

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Get Outside and Enjoy What’s Left of Winter

It has been a long, cold and snowy winter.  Often, these months keep people indoors, but fresh air, sunshine and Vitamin D are important all year round.  With winter drawing to a close, and spring around the corner, for one final month try to get outside and enjoy all the fun, healthy activities winter has to offer.  The following from Canadian Living provides information on some great winter activities.

Canadian Living:  6 Winter Activities to Fall In Love With

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Dog Awesomeness

I have always had dogs.  We had two when I was a kid, and when they died, we had two more.  When I moved to University I bought myself a Golden Retriever and two years later purchased another one.  When they passed away we adopted another Golden, and this December brought home a Golden puppy (Timber – photo above) to join our family.  I will say I am totally in love with this breed, and really with dogs in general (we have an adopted cat too but after owning a cat I can officially say I am a dog person).

Yes dogs are hairy, poop in your yard (lots), lick themselves, have eye goop, and occasionally have accidents or barf in the house.  They can chew stuff too, are expensive to feed and even more expensive to train, groom and keep healthy.  So, why bother?  Because animals are amazing for your health, and are becoming more and more recognized as being able to offer therapeutic and functional benefit.

According to Web-MD the health benefits of owning animals are immense.  People that own animals tend to have lower blood pressure, less anxiety and depression, better immunity, and less allergies.  Animals in the home are proven to reduce angry outbursts by people with Dementia, prolong the lifespan of seniors, heart-attack patients fare better in their recovery, and dog owners walk an estimated 68% more than the general public.

Then, there are service or guide dogs.  These dogs are professionally trained at a young age to assist persons with disabilities. While service dogs initially began helping the visually impaired, training programs now exist to teach service dogs to assist persons with a variety of conditions including hearing impairments, seizures, physical disability, autism and diabetes. For example, guide dogs can be taught to distinguish sounds, make physical contact with their handlers, and lead them to the source of noise; be it someone at the door, an alarm clock, crying baby, or a ringing telephone. Guide dogs who assist their handlers with a physical disability retrieve objects, flick switches, open and close appliances, and doors. They are also trained to bark or activate an alert system when help is needed.  They can warn of an oncoming seizure, and some are even trained to protect victims of violence from a perpetrator.  Together guide and service dogs can increase someone’s level of independence, safety, security, and reduce the impact of disability on a daily basis.

It is important to highlight, however, that service dogs are not just pets – these are working animals, highly trained that need to be 100% attentive to their owner at all times.  Distractions can lead to mistakes, and this can harm the dog and handler.  This is why people and children are told to not pet service dogs however tempting that may be.  Ultimately, service dogs should be treated by the public as an assistive device – there to help maximize safety and function, but not to be tampered with.

While the cost to raise and train a puppy to be a future service dog is about $25,000, the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, and Canadian Dog Guides for the Blind, provide guide these for those in need at no cost.  As part of the process, they match the person to their dog, provide training for the handler, including supply of the appropriate equipment, such as the guide dog’s identification harness or collar.

Beyond the health benefits of pet ownership, Occupational Therapists recognize that guide dogs can play a key role in supporting a handlers’ ability to be more independent, mobile in the community, and safe both indoors and out.  For more information about guide dog programs, talk to your occupational therapist, or visit the Lions Foundation website at http://www.dogguides.com/programs.html or the Canadian Dog Guides for the Blind website at http://www.guidedogs.ca/index2.php.

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Against the Odds

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc

Every day I witness how an accident or trauma can derail someone’s life.  And size does not always matter.  A small accident can have catastrophic results, depending on who it happens to.  My clients, searching for answers, often want dates and timelines to map out their recovery and to try and understand for how long their life might be disrupted.  They are often faced with financial hardship or ruin, jobs on the line, families that are not coping, and independence lost.  They need to emotionally prepare for the road ahead.

In physical rehab, answers are easier – doctors are skilled at predicting when people can weight-bear, when the cast might come off, when they might be able to return to some form of normal function.  But what is difficult to predict, always, is the emotional consequences of an injury, and the length and completeness of a cognitive recovery.

In my world, optimal recovery comes from the combination of many things:

1.    A body that is given the optimal fuel, resources and environment for healing.

2.    A motivated client.

3.    Funding for rehabilitation, including a supportive insurer.

4.    A lawyer (if present) that supports and fights for treatment approvals.

5.    An external environment that fosters recovery (family, friends, employers, financial security, and a suitable living environment).

If one of these things is lacking, the entire process suffers.  So, while I always want to provide hope and encouragement for people in their recovery, I cannot control any of these factors and they can mean the difference between weeks and years of disability.  For some, the odds of these factors aligning are often stacked too heavily against them and the outcome does not look good.

And then there are the people that surprise us all and beat the odds.  Those people that return to work more quickly than we thought possible, can walk when they were told this would be unlikely, and whose family unite and become stronger when faced with a challenge.

Right now we are in the middle of the Olympics.  I thought it would be appropriate to share some Olympic stories of athletes that overcame adversity to fulfill their Olympic dreams (revised from Oxygen Magazine, Winter Olympics Issue):

Betty Robinson was 16 when she competed and won gold in the first Olympics that allowed women to participate in track (1928).  In 1931 she survived a plane crash that left her in a coma for seven months.  It took her two years to walk again.  Yet, she returned to the Olympics in 1936 and won another gold.

Melissa Stockwell lost her left leg in Iraq while serving in the U.S. Army in 2004.  Four years later she completed in the Beijing Paralympics in swimming.

Quanitta Underwood suffered years of childhood abuse by her father.  At 19 she discovered boxing and went on to compete in the 2012 London Olympics.

Silken Laumann was an accomplished rower when she broke her leg badly months before the 1992 Olympics.  After five surgeries and three weeks in hospital, she returned to training six weeks later and captured bronze in the summer games that same year.

So, if you have been injured or endured trauma that has set you back, don’t ever count yourself out.   Odds are just odds…made to be challenged, defied and broken.  While I can’t control anything on the list of things that promote an optimal recovery, you can.

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How Does Your Relationship Affect Your Health?

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and on this day many reflect on and celebrate those they love. Relationships have a long term effect on both our mental and physical health. The following from Psychology Today discusses how when selecting a mate we should be careful to examine their healthy and not-so-healthy habits as these may influence the way you live. Already in a relationship? Take time with your partner to discuss how the two of you can work together to improve your healthy habits.

Psychology Today: In Sickness and In Health

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Can Healthcare in Canada Learn From the Olympics?

We’ve waited four years for another winter Olympics and they are finally here!  For the next 2 weeks athletes from around the world will put it all on the line to strive to be the best in their particular sport.  How do they get there?  Through diligent physical and mental training and excellent coaching.  The following from the Hamilton Spectator has drawn a parallel to how Olympic athletes are coached and trained to how Canada can improve its healthcare system.  Read on and see if you agree that coaching may be the missing link to giving Canadians the best healthcare possible.

The Hamilton Spectator: Healthcare Improvement and the Olympics

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It’s Heart Month: Recognize The Signs

According to Statistics Canada, every 7 minutes someone dies from heart disease or stroke, making these two of the three leading causes of death.  (Statistics Canada)  February is Heart Month and we will be providing heart healthy tips, recipes and more.  But beyond prevention, understanding the signs and symptoms of a heart attack is essential to early intervention and could save your life, or the life of someone around you. The following video starring Elizabeth Banks, and created by the “Go Red For Women” campaign, is both entertaining and factual.  Please view this important video, it may save your life or the life of someone you love.