Reduce The Risk of Stroke by Changing Your Diet
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.
Inspired
“You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.”
Winston Churchill
Personal Injury and Occupational Therapy: How We Help
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.
Laughter Therapy
Weekly Mind Bender
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.
Inspired
An amazing young boy defied all odds to become an exceptional athlete. See the story of Ezra Frech and his amazing message as he’s interviewed on Ellen.
Concussion Basics
The following video by Dr. Mike Evans gives a great overview of concussions that is simply and easy to understand. It provides parents and children with vital information about how concussions occur, the symptoms of a concussion, and some guidelines for recovery.
Remember, a concussion is a serious injury and requires treatment and rest to ensure the brain recovers properly. Ensure you speak to your Family Doctor and consult an Occupational Therapist if you or your child has suffered a head injury.
Inspired
“I can’t change the world, but I can change the world in me.”
U2, Rejoice
Is Mindfulness the Key to A Healthier Workplace?
“Mindfulness” is a term we have heard a lot this year. This old technique seems to be the new trend said to improve the health of our busy and stressed generation. The term “mindfulness” is defined as “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.”
Sounds like a great way to heighten self-awareness, decrease stress and boost health personally. But what might surprise you is that many are saying the practice of mindfulness is the next big thing in workplace wellness. The following article from the Vancouver Sun looks at the participation of one of Canada’s largest companies in a pilot project that is introducing mindfulness practice into the workplace. Check out the preliminary findings and see if this ancient technique might be right for you and your company.