It’s summer vacation time and with the kids out of school you may already be hearing the dreaded words: “I’m bored.” We’ve come across this great, OT approved, method to prevent boredom and help kids independently keep active and busy. We encourage you to post the “Bored Board” in your home and each time you hear “I’m bored” ask your kids if they have tried each of the items.
AOTA Blogs: Before You Say I’m Bored… the Bored Board & Lots of Outdoor Activities
Strawberry season in Ontario is a short one, but there’s still time to enjoy these delicious and nutritious berries while they are fresh. They are full of nutritional benefits and are a tasty treat! Check out the following from Eating Well magazine which discusses the health benefits of strawberries and enjoy them before they’re gone.
Eating Well: Strawberry Nutrition and Health Benefits of Strawberries
It’s that time again… The report cards are done, the bell has rung, the kids are excited and summer vacation is upon us! Summer is a time for camps, vacations, trips, cottaging and so much more! But where do they fit in learning? Ahead lies two full months of vacation from traditional schooling; which for many kids is enough time for their young minds to unlearn much of what was taught. How do we as parents make sure our kids don’t suffer summer brain drain, while still ensuring they get the break and vacation they need? Check out the following from Family Education for great tips on how to easily and painlessly incorporate learning into your summer plans!
Can you solve the following:
1. No one to Blame
2. Right between the eyes
3. Jack in the Box
4. Down Payment
5. Left Overs
6. Bedspread
When experiencing a stroke quick action can help to save a life and prevent long term damage, but the signs often go unrecognized. The following from The Heart and Stroke Foundation is an excellent interactive video which allows you to experience a stroke from the eyes of both the witness and the victim. Check out the video and other great tips to help you recognize the signs of a stroke and remember to think F.A.S.T.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation: Learn the Signs of Stroke by Experiencing One
photo courtesy of the Heart and Stroke Foundation
If the song is true and “everybody’s working for the weekend,” how will they feel when the weekend is over? For most people weekends are a time to unwind and leave the office behind, so when it’s coming to an end it’s common to experience the Sunday night blues. How can you get past this feeling? The following from Business Insider shows proven ways to turn those Sunday night blues into enjoyable moments that will bring you success in the week ahead.
Business Insider: 11 Things Successful People Do On Sunday Night
There are many risk factors that can lead to a stroke, and many, including high cholesterol and obesity, are tied to diet. The following article from Reader’s Digest discusses a recent study showing how eating a typical “Western Diet” can increase the risk of stroke and provides suggestions on changing your diet to reduce your risk.
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
As one of the largest Occupational Therapy companies in the province, we are noticing a growing trend towards lawyers requesting an occupational therapy assessment and opinion in medical-malpractice, medical-legal, and personal injury lawsuits. Why is an occupational therapy opinion so important? Here are the key reasons:
1. No other profession assess ALL areas of function in the place where people live, work and play – OT is one stop shopping for understanding the physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral aspects of disability in the environments where people function.
2. Our reports highlight the story of disability and include information on how injury has translated into lost independence, altered life roles, impacted quality of life and reduced productivity. This is essential for helping others to truly understand not just the medical issues, but the LIFE issues.
3. Our assessment and treatment recommendations see the big picture. We highlight someone’s needs now and into the future, and can indicate how disability and dysfunction will progress as someone ages or changes in time.
4. Our reports are not fraught with jargon. Instead, they highlight very practical and real issues that are easily understood and related to by all. They can help one best understand if and how the injury has truly impacted life and living.
5. Our assessments are typically more economical than other professionals and our reports often highlight other assessment and treatment needs (both private and public) to help you and your client know where to go to find solutions.
6. OT’s are also excellent at Future Cost of Care Assessments or Life Care Plans. These comprehensive reports price someone’s future needs including attendant care, housekeeping, home maintenance, and caregiving, along with device replacement costs and the costs for future therapies. These aid in the quantification of injury to increase rewards.
The bottom line is that occupational therapy opinions and reports are a crucial aspect of outlining the impact of disability on daily life. If you are a personal injury lawyer and you are not regularly using occupational therapy assessments and reports in your practice, perhaps consider how this can aid in your ability to help people receive optimal compensation for their loss.
You have one of me and I’m easy to touch, I’m hard to look at, but you can in a clutch. Yet you’re told to watch me, or get your friends’. I’m often referred to when you make amends. You can throw me out but not away, I cause many pain, every day. What am I?
Your back.