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Archive for category: Original Posts

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Reducing Injury and Illness In The Workplace

Having employees off from work due to injury and illness is costly to your organization and detrimental to the overall wellbeing of your team.  Stress, high demands, dangerous work environments and poor ergonomics in the workplace can lead to illness and injury.  Do employers realize that THEY (and their workplace environment) may be the leading cause of these leaves?  And more importantly that THEY are the ones who can work to prevent future illness or injury.

The following article discusses two of the main reasons an employee may be on long term disability leave, how the workplace environment may be the cause, and how occupational therapy can assist in the prevention of workplace injury and illness.

Roger Foisy:  How Employers Can Become a Cause of Long Term Disability Claims

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Occupational Therapy and Aging in Place

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

Being proactive with your health is one of the best strategies for preventing future problems.  This is in contrast to being reactive which would involve trying to address a problem AFTER it has happened.  Much like putting a grab bar in the bathroom AFTER a fall caused hip fracture, the better strategy would have been putting in the bar BEFORE, while you are well, to prevent the fracture in the first place. This is what “aging in place” is all about.

As the population continues to age, more and more people are opting to stay in their homes.  In fact, in Ontario, 60% of people over 75 still own a home.

Harvard Health Publications compiled a list of “6 Ways You Can Prepare to Age Well” and in reading this we identified that 5 of the 6 strategies related to occupational therapy!  So, we have adapted this to show the top 5 ways occupational therapy can be involved in the aging well and aging in place process:

1.       Space Modification:  An occupational therapist is trained to provide solutions for the “occupations” of daily living.  The home you occupy may need to be slightly adapted, or more extensively modified, in order to ensure it will meet your needs as your physical abilities change.  An occupational therapist can help by assessing your current space, your physical concerns, and will develop a plan for any current or future adaptations you may require.  Common areas OT’s consider in the home include the bathroom, kitchen, flooring, entry ways and stairs.

2.       Fall Prevention:  As people age, the dangers of falling become heightened.  An occupational therapist can help by assessing your home to look for any existing dangers that may lead to falls.  Common areas considered include flooring, transitions, layout and home organization.  Check out our video on “fall prevention” to learn more about how OT can help to reduce your risk.

3.       Is a Move Necessary:  Although many are hoping to live in their current home as long as possible, at some point people often have to make the difficult decision to relocate.  If the layout of your home is not suitable for your aging in place plan, it may be necessary to look to move to a more suitable home, such as something that is one level or has less maintenance.  Alternatively, many seniors look to downsize into senior friendly neighbourhoods or villages where care might be onsite if needed.

4.       Plan Ahead for Assistance:  Do you have someone reliable who is willing to assist and care for you in your later years?  An occupational therapist can help you to plan for the assistance you may need – such as help with activities of daily living, finances, meal preparation, transportation and home maintenance.  It’s best to discuss with loved ones early on if they are able to help with any of these tasks, and if not, an OT can help you to find this assistance in the community.

5.       Emergency Preparation:  As you age, the likelihood of an emergency is heightened.  Emergencies could include a fall, health crisis, problem with your home, or medical condition that worsens overtime causing you to need 24 hour care.  An occupational therapist can help you to develop an emergency plan, or to have the supports in place so you can get support when it is needed.

It is important to remember that people will age differently, and no two people will have the same experience with the changes that occur as we all get older.  I know a lady at my gym who is 75 and can run circles around most 30 year olds.  A unique and custom approach is the best strategy for ensuring that you get the help you need, based on your own abilities and the environment in which you live.   It is just important to develop your plans early and proactively, instead of reactively trying to develop solutions after something has happened.  Seek the services of an occupational therapist for input on how to “age well” and “age in place”.

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Mind your Mouth – the Language of Disability

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

Have you ever been in that uncomfortable place of wondering what to say to someone with a disability?  That cognitive and emotional process of wanting to offer support, but not wanting to offend?  Or worrying about offending by offering support?  Or worrying about offending by not offering support?  It can be a conundrum.

I recently left a client meeting and one of the other providers was a wheelchair user.  As we ventured to the parking lot we stopped at her car.  As we were finishing our conversation she proceeded to engage in the process of transferring into her vehicle.  Not wanting to provide help without her request or permission, and not really knowing if she needed it in the first place, I simply said “I know you do this all the time but if you need a hand please let me know”.  I figured it was the best way for me to acknowledge that I could help if she needed or wanted it, but that I didn’t want to assume she could not be independent.

I have had many clients tell me about situations in the community where people have made comments, or engaged in actions that are blatantly disrespectful.  I had one client enter Walmart in his wheelchair and the “Greeter” put a sticker on him saying “I am special”.  He was livid.  Or, at a recent course we watched a video of a client with quadriplegia trying a community outing for the first time since his injury.  As he struggled to manage his wallet and bank card the cashier was visibly annoyed.  Granted she was young, but clearly had no patience for this man that was struggling and her actions were clearly not going to make him feel any better.  On top of being compassionless, she didn’t offer him any assistance either.

Ontario has made some great strides in the domain of customer service.  Not only are commercial buildings to be accessible to people with mobility impairments, but now employers are responsible for training their staff on how to appropriately and effectively provide service to people of all abilities.  This is a great step in the direction of helping all people know how to manage service situations that require compassion, patience and understanding.  We have previously blogged about the Accessibility Legislature in Ontario and you can find that information here:  “Accessibility In Ontario.”

So, have you ever wondered how to navigate those waters?  Have you ever used the words “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound”?  Do you understand the difference between handicap and disability?  Do you know how use of words like “cripple, invalid and retard” have changed over time to now be generally unacceptable ways to reference someone with a disability?  For people in wheelchairs, the wheelchair actually allows them freedom of movement.  It returns to them a level of function they lost when their legs stopped working.  For many of them, the ability to be independently mobile is not “confining” and does not make them “bound”.  It is now proper practice to put the “person” before the “disability” and to describe their situation as you would their hair color.  For example, “Julie has brown hair” has the same application as “Julie uses a wheelchair”.  How could I be offended by such a statement of fact?  I recently came across the following resource called “Watch Your Language” and find this is an excellent tool to help people that may not have regular contact or training speaking to or about people with disabilities to understand the nuances of language surrounding this topic.

But I think the most important thing to remember here is that not all disability is visible.  It is never good practice to speak negatively, disrespectfully or rudely about anyone.  Doing so just reflects poorly on you.  Remember that everyone has a story and the one you might make in your head about that person or their situation may not be accurate.  As Stephen Covey always said “talk about people like they are present”.  In the current movie Cinderella, I love the advice she gets from her dying mother: “have courage and be kind”.  Words to live by.

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Cognitive Challenges at Work– There’s an App For That!

CanAssist is an organization at the University of Victoria with the mission of creating a better quality of life for people with disabilities.  They have created helpful apps, available on numerous devices, including the “CanWork” app which works to promote independence and build confidence by helping people with cognitive challenges at work.  The app helps individuals manage shifts, prepare for work and complete work-related tasks successfully.  It has just received endorsement from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and we encourage you to check out the “CanWork” app and many of the other helpful apps created by CanAssist.

CanAssist:  Apps For Download

 

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Love Languages Applied to Work and Home

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

I have a few online Goddesses I follow.  Women entrepreneurs who have built an empire educating other women on how to be successful.  Much like my own blog, they are comfortable sharing their stories of success and failure and want others to benefit from the knowledge they have.

In watching my online videos I will occasionally stumble upon a gem.  A piece of knowledge, a book to read, a way of thinking, or an exercise that truly moves me forward.  I recently had one of those experiences.

The video, by my career-crush and woman with the best hair in the world Marie Forleo (http://www.marieforleo.com/), was on ways to appreciate and be appreciated.  Be it your spouse, children, parents or colleagues at work, we all strive to be loved and appreciated by those that matter to us, and to demonstrate this in return.  Marie was suggesting that in work and life it is helpful to understand how people experience and interpret love and appreciation so the efforts you make towards them can truly have an impact.  While a bit unorthodox, her suggestion was to engage people in the test of their Love Language.  She mentioned that this really helped her and her team know how to work together and ultimately appreciate each other best.  So, I took the test.  And my husband took the test.  And my children.  And my team.  The results were fascinating and helpful.

In my own family, our languages are different.  Personally, I appreciate it most when people take things off my plate.  My mind is a web of things to do so one less thing to think about is hugely valuable and appreciated by me.  Be it “I grabbed the kitty litter, put that envelope in the mail, or will send that email” – it resonates and helps me feel loved.  And call me cold, but I don’t resonate with physical touch (recall MC Hammer “Can’t Touch This”).

My girls are all different.  While most of them ranked “quality time” as their # 1, some prefer “words of affirmation” and one “physical touch”.  Not surprising, my physical touch kid is the one that is always asking for hugs and snuggling up to me on the couch.  Of great interest to me was that the one whose highest score was “words of affirmation” is also the kid that has a really hard time with conversations about things she did wrong or ways she let us down.  That makes sense now as people with this love language “thrive on hearing kind and encouraging words” and can be “shattered by insults”.  While we would never intentionally insult her, indicating that her school work is sloppy will make her feel unloved.  Good to know.  After we took the test and talked about it as a family, I took all of our ratings and put these in a chart by the door where we come and go.  I wanted these to be in plain sight and a regular reminder that our Love Languages are different and this matters when we want or need to be loved and appreciated by one another.  In a chaotic family of 6, this understanding is essential.

So I then took this experience a step further.  I asked the very important women I work with to also take this test.  The results again were interesting.  While my business partner and I tend to use small gifts as a way to show them appreciation, none of them ranked this as important.  Most would rather have unsolicited compliments (“words of affirmation”) then a surprise Edible Arrangement.  Some also prefer “acts of service” or being given “quality time” to feel valued.  At work we can easily implement appreciation actions by offering to help them complete a burdensome task, providing unsolicited compliments, or making sure they have our undivided attention when they need it.

I consider the masterpiece that is myself to be always “under construction” and as such I am repeatedly interested in ways to be better, do better, and spread love.  Love does not need to be considered romantic and according to 5 Love Languages, can be cast over all we meet with through simple gestures, kind words, a pat on the back, a small token of appreciation, or by sparing some time from a packed schedule.  Take the test here and see how you interpret love and appreciation and share that knowledge with those around you.

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Solutions for A Sore Neck

Sitting at a desk, staring at a screen, reading a book, working on a laptop or tablet, texting, daily commuting… these are all activities that can lead to pain and soreness in the neck and shoulders.

The Institute of Work and Health reported that neck pain related to work is one of the most common complaints of working aged adults and in 2006 it was reported that injuries to the upper extremity account for 30% of lost-time claims in Ontario.

The following handout provides you with some simple and cost effective solutions to reduce neck pain while at work.

NECK PAIN -- ergo doc one pager

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What Is OT?

A common question I am asked is “what is occupational therapy?”

Most people think occupational therapy is about getting people back to work following an injury, or designing functional work spaces and workstations because of the word “occupation” in the term.  While this is an important part of what occupational therapists do, their scope is actually much broader.

Here are some other examples of areas where an occupational therapist can help:

– Dressing and grooming

– Bathing and showering

– Making and eating meals

– Being social

– Returning to work, school, or volunteering activities

– Engaging in leisure activities

The following video from our OT-V series provides an indepth look at what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can help people with physical, emotional, or cognitive disabilities.

We hope our video provides you with a great explanation and answers the frequently asked question:  “What IS OT?”

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Time to Power Down and Get Your Kids Moving!

Living in the digital age is starting to take a toll on the health of Canadian children.  In Canada’s most recent participation report card on physical activity for children and youth we received a D-.  Not a grade most parents would be happy with if it was on a child’s school report card.  The question is, how can we improve this grade?  To start, we need to tame the technology habit and get kids playing again.

We love the recent campaign from Participaction that includes commercials with a powerful message, like the one shown here, to encourage parents to “Make Room for Play.”

Check out highlights of the report from Participaction and take a moment to tell us how you think we can improve our grade and the health of Canada’s children.

Participaction: Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

 

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Top Pool Safety Tips

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

In celebration of summer, I wanted to repost our popular blog on pool safety. These helpful tips and tools are good things to review and consider…especially this time of year.

I was a fortunate child who grew up with an in-ground pool. As the only house on the street with a pool in our yard, the neighborhood kids would loiter around our home hoping for an invite. My mom developed a wonderful system using a Canada flag. If the flag on our fence was up – everyone was welcome for a swim. The only rule was that the kids needed to bring a parent. Mandatory. And despite the kids that would sit on our lawn whining about not having an adult to join them, my mom was firm to the rule.

We have a pool in our yard. This is separately fenced. As our kids are getting older, and have been able to swim for years, we are giving them more freedom around the pool. As long as an adult is home, they are welcome to swim. However, last year I was reminded of an important lesson – just because my kids can swim, that is not necessarily true for others of the same age. We had a pool party for our twins’ birthday and all the kids arrived and proceeded to jump in the pool. One child was hanging around the shallow end and I asked her if she could swim – nope. I was surprised that in dropping her off to a pool party, her parents would not mention this very important fact.

A few summers ago on a street very close to mine an 18 month old child drowned when he was able to get outside while his father had a 15 minute nap. Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death among children aged 14 and under in Ontario, after motor vehicle accidents. Yet, like many risks, drowning is absolutely preventable. Here are some safety precautions to consider:

1.  Constant and vigilant supervision. Supervision of any child is a full-time job. Most drowning’s occur when a child is playing near the water and falls in – not while “swimming”. So, when it comes to kids, the “within arm’s reach” rule should always apply – whether they are in, or around, water.

2.  Using safety devices for the pool. These could include:

o Poolside Alarm– A motion sensor is installed along the pool edge, which sounds an alarm when waves are detected from a body falling into the water.

o Child Immersion Alarm– A wristband worn by a child, which will sound an alarm when they come into contact with water.

o Pool Fences– Fences should be at least four feet tall, surround the entire pool and have self-latching gates out of the reach of children. Speclocks prevent children from entering the pool area, as they are complex or require adult strength to open. Gate alarms can also be installed to alert when the gate is unexpectedly opened.

o Pool Covers– A cover built to fit your pool dimensions will act as a barrier for a falling body, as they will not enter the water.

o Door locks – special locks, difficult for children to open and installed at the top of a door, prevent kids from being able to get into the yard without an adult.

3.  Use life jackets, not just floaties. If your child is not a strong swimmer, they should always be wearing a life jacket – in a pool, at the beach, or on a boat. Like wearing a seat-belt and helmet, children should be taught from a young age that wearing a life jacket is necessary around water. From a functional standpoint, life jackets are safer than floaties. Floaties can develop small holes that actually fill with water, or can deflate, causing the child to slowly sink lower into the water. A well-fitting life jacket is designed to keep a child’s head above water, and to flip a child over onto their back to facilitate breathing. They cannot deflate. It also provides something for an adult to grasp if they need to pull the child out of the water.

4.  Know the signs of drowning. Contrary to popular belief, drowning does not happen when people are flailing their arms, yelling and calling for help. It is actually the opposite. People that are getting into trouble in the water often look like they are climbing an invisible ladder. They can’t yell or cry for help as their body is low on oxygen and is focused on trying to keep air in, not yell it out. Know the signs – check out this link for the “8 Quiet Signs of Drowning.”

5.  Knowledge of first aid. Parents should always consider having knowledge of CPR or basic water rescue. This could prove handy for many situations beyond just water safety.

6.  Swimming lessons. Give your kids a head start by helping them to become comfortable in the water from a young age. Every minute they can stay afloat could save their life.

But remember, when it comes to children, nothing is safer than diligent and attentive supervision.