A recent study conducted by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association shows that between 2001 and 2013 Ontarians have overpaid an estimated $3 to $4 billion in auto insurance premiums. The recent Ontario budget calls for a reduction to these premiums, but at a huge cost in accident benefits. Find out more about the study and help by signing the petition to stop the reduction to benefits for accident victims.
CBC: Ontario drivers overpaid $840M for auto insurance a year, study says
Do you suffer from headaches at work? Are you sitting in front of a computer monitor all day long? This may be the cause. Headaches can be brought on by many different factors such as diet, hydration, and stress, but are often due to visual strain. Our helpful guide provides cost effective solutions for reducing visual strain and headaches at work.
Download the full e-book for more cost effective ergonomic solutions.
If you haven’t planted your garden already, now is the time! In recent years there has been a rise in the number of people growing vegetables and fruits in their backyards, patios and even on rooftops. Why? From health benefits, to financial savings, to helping the earth there are many benefits of growing your own food.
Check out the following article from Prevention Magazine to learn more.
Prevention: 6 Health Benefits Of Gardening
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin
In recognition of Brain Injury Awareness month, I thought it would be fitting to start at the very beginning. PREVENTION. Really, it is the best medicine. For now, let’s forget about the symptoms of brain injury and its’ impact on work, home, school, and quality of life. Let’s not talk about how it is assessed and treated. Instead, let’s focus on trying to stop it from happening in the first place.
But even before that, we need to know what we are dealing with. It is well known that brain Injury is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In Canada, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is more common than breast cancer, spinal cord injury, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis (MS) combined. There are approximately 18,000 TBI hospitalizations annually. In the province of Ontario, 25% of the two million people diagnosed with a neurological condition have suffered from a TBI. In 2000-2001 brain injuries accounted for $151.7-million in direct costs to Canadians (1).
By way of distribution, TBI is most common in children (0-19) at 30%, followed by seniors (60+) at 29%. In kids, falls are the most common cause followed by motor vehicle accidents and then sports. In adults, motor vehicle accidents cause the most TBI’s, and in seniors the causes include falls (76%) followed by car accidents (2).
Knowing the causes helps to look at how we can engage in preventative strategies. As an occupational therapist with a background in health promotion, a parent of four, and athlete, here are my thoughts:
Falls
Kids fall all the time, so how can we prevent that? Well, there is a difference between a child falling when walking, running or jumping, versus falling from, say, a shopping cart, off of a playground structure, or from a tree they tried to climb. Falls from bikes, skateboards and scooters are going to happen – and a helmet can mean the difference between a head injury and not. The bottom line is that falls in kids are best prevented by proper adult supervision. Yes, it is that simple.
In seniors, falls take on a different form. They are not from carefree or reckless behavior, but often happen when someone is just trying to go about their day by having a shower, coming down the stairs, or taking a leisurely walk. Seniors need to be attuned to the physical, balance and vision changes they are experiencing as they age, and need to consider the importance of anti-slip mats in the bathroom, removing scatter mats, installing grab bars or railings, and the benefits of a walking stick or cane when outdoors. Seniors need to engage in regular exercise and activity to maintain bone density, mobility and intact balance. They have to be very careful when living with pets or when trying to negotiate places that are cluttered or dark. Awareness of declining abilities is the first key to addressing these properly such that a prevention plan can be developed that will ultimately improve safety and reduce the risks. Note that the services of an occupational therapist can be pivotal in creating this safety plan.
Check out our OT-V episode “Fall Prevention” for more helpful information.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Like falls, despite our best intentions, these can and do happen. The issue here is trying to minimize the risk and optimize the outcome. Safe drivers are attentive, undistracted, and alert. They travel at safe speeds, approach intersections with caution, stop behind the line, pass when appropriate, and recognize that rushing to get somewhere on time is useless if it means you never get there at all. Safe drivers don’t text or hold a phone to their ear, don’t eat a hamburger and steer with their knees, and don’t drive when tired. If you are one of these drivers you are going to increase your chances of avoiding a collision, and lower your chances of being the cause. Unfortunately, however, not everyone is a safe driver. So, all the rest of us can do is wear our seat belt, buy a car with a good safety rating, make sure everyone in the car is buckled properly, make sure the headrest is at a proper height, put loose belongings in the trunk (I know of a child who got a head injury from a flying jar of pickles that escaped the grocery bag during a collision), and follow the rules for child seats.
Sports
I am an avid athlete and have pretty much played or tried every sport. There are very few sports I dislike and I honestly feel that sports can be the most positive and influential outlet for young people, and one of the most engaging and social outlets for adults. The issue is that sports seem to be becoming more and more competitive, kids and adults are getting bigger and stronger, and the culture of some sports has changed from friendly competition to all-out war. Preventing head injury in sport can include outfitting your kids with proper equipment (many hockey parents spend more on a stick than a helmet), ensuring they are playing at their level, monitoring the coaching influence and team culture to make sure this is appropriate, and my favorite is from the book “The Secrets of Successful Families” and includes that the only job of a parent in organized sport is to “shut up and cheer”. No parent should be on the sidelines encouraging reckless, mean or harmful behavior. The results can be devastating. And if you are concerned about your child’s risk of head injury in sport, know that there are many other sports that reduce the risk but are equally as challenging, competitive, fun and have the same physical, cognitive and developmental benefits.
So, let’s start our recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month by practicing prevention. It does not have to be easier said than done.
A cowboy rides into town on Friday, stays for three days, then leaves on Friday. How did he do it?
Did you know that in Ontario there is a direct funding program for people with disabilities? This program allows people with disabilities to independently manage their own attendant care. Those who meet the eligibility requirements will receive monthly funds which allow them to hire and schedule attendants of their own choosing, on their own timeline– thus providing more independence and control.
For more information on this program please check out the video attached and visit www.dfontario.ca.
Nicer weather has arrived! It’s time to take advantage by getting outside and adding some more physical activity to your life. Biking to work, if your commute is close enough, is a great way to increase physical activity, reduce the effects of sitting disease, save time, money, and help the environment. Don’t have bike? Don’t worry! Bike share programs, like the City of Hamilton’s new Bike the Hammer program, are popping up in cities across Ontario.
Check out more about this healthy alternative to driving in this helpful infographic from Lifehack.com:
Providing care for an aging or ill loved one is a difficult task. A recent study from the Mental Health Commission of Canada found that of the 5.5 million Canadian adults acting as caregivers, approximately 17% reported caregiver related stress. With the aging population and dementia and Alzheimer’s numbers rising, it is more important than ever for caregivers to ensure that while they are providing the best for their loved ones, they are also caring for themselves. A new facility in Markham Ontario has been launched to do just that. Memory and Company is a private health club with upscale amenities to provide those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias a safe place to be cared for, stay social and remain active while primary caregivers work or enjoy some much needed respite. Check out more about Memory and Company in this recent CTV news piece.
photo care of memoryandcompany.com
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
It was years ago that I saw a picture of a new prototype Mercedes. No steering wheel, no gas, brake or clutch – just a joystick that did it all. My instant thought was of how many of my clients would be able to drive a car like that – it would just take one working upper limb. No more bulky hand controls, complicated steering apparatus, or wires and cords connecting it all.
More recently I read an article on “cars that drive themselves”. Amazing. Imagine that. Assuming the technology works, these would eliminate accidents, injuries, and the human problems of driving distracted, tired, while texting, eating, putting on mascara, being under the influence, or even getting lost. It would be like having a driver or a limo every day. No more tragedies of injury and death at the hands of neglect or mistake. This has huge potential to help make transportation time both safer and more productive.
What struck me, however, was that the article I read was written from the perspectives of Ontario insurance companies and body shops. They were expressing concern that “cars that drive themselves” will result in fewer accidents which will lower insurance rates (less insurance profit) and will reduce auto-body repairs. Sorry, what? REDUCING accidents is a problem? I don’t see any health care professionals writing articles or blogs on how devastating it would be to have a reduction in clients who were severely or catastrophically injured in a car accident. Clearly a health professional would look like a schmuck if they voiced that opinion, as do these deep-pocket and greedy insurers and the body shops they are in bed with.
It just goes to reinforce the problem in Ontario. Insurance companies cry fraud, losses and keep suffocating benefits without reducing rates. The government adds restrictions and fees for billing insurance companies and starts to “license” providers. They blame lawyers, providers, tow-truck drivers, and claimants without looking in house at how they are running their “business”. Then they show up with an opinion that expresses concern over lost revenue if people stop getting hurt. Wow. Disappointing.
I have said it before and will say it again – I would be happy to be out of work if it meant people would stop getting injured in car accidents. If insurers truly cared about the people they insured they should be all for it. But then again the incidence of car accidents and resulting injuries have been decreasing for years and our rates have not. Enough said.
6 drinking glasses stand in a row, with the first 3 full of juice and the next 3 empty. By moving only 1 glass you must arrange them so empty and full glasses alternate. How can you do this?
Pour the 2nd glass into the 5th glass.