Being diagnosed with heart disease is a life-altering event, often requiring permanent lifestyle changes. Occupational therapists can help people to recover from the initial incident, to rebuild a life of function, and to promote change that will help with prevention.
Learn more about how Occupational Therapy can assist those recovering from heart disease in the following infographic:
Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living.
For the month of February, our O-Tip series will help you to practice safe and efficient snow removal this winter.
Snow shoveling can be very strenuous work, especially when dealing with large amounts. Therefore, as long as it is safe to be outside, it is suggested that you try to tackle the snow in stages. This may mean going out and shoveling multiple times throughout a snowfall. Waiting until all the snow has fallen will make the snow harder to move, which can increase the chance of injury. Set yourself a timer and go out every 2 hours or so and reward yourself with a cup of hot cocoa each when you finish!
Julie Entwistle, C.Dir. (c), MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
Co-written by Lauren Halliwushka, Occupational Therapist
Unfortunately, in the ongoing quest for an inclusive and equal-opportunity society, “sex” still sells. What used to be in printed material (magazines, newspapers, and fliers) has turned into an online buffet of images that are posted by people of themselves (often filtered, patched and “enhanced”), by people of others (with and without consent), and by photographers, companies and others whose job is to capture the attention of, and entice millions of people, to buy a product, service or idea. The goal of these “sexy” images is to tap into our intrinsic human need and desire for sexuality by adhering to the societal expectations of what is attractive.
It has only been in the last few years that the concept of “attractive” is changing. Models are increasingly featured in many different shapes, sizes, ethnicities and some campaigns (thank you Dove) are about “natural” beauty. But despite this small move in the direction of selling with images of “various types of people” presented as “real”, there is one more similarity in advertising that we often overlook. The models are able-bodied, or to use a totally arbitrary term, they would be considered “normal”.
Why then do we rarely see individuals with disabilities featured in sexually enticing advertisements? It goes back to society’s assumptions of what beautiful and sexy is. Disabled people, through their history of being marginalized, institutionalized, segregated, or otherwise pitied have not been routinely associated with ‘attractive” as a concept. We need to work together to continue to change this perception and to remove the stigma.
Individuals with disabilities are sexual beings. Like you and me, they also have urges, desires, needs, and fantasies. However, a subset of the general population doesn’t think so. According to a systematic review of qualitative articles, a prominent misconception among a sample of the general public is that individuals with disabilities are asexual. Biologically this is odd because individuals with disabilities undergo the same maturation processes as everyone including puberty, reproduction and hormonal surges. Yes, approximately 1% of individuals are asexual but this is all people, not just those with disabilities. Another common misconception is that individuals with disabilities are only attracted to other individuals with disabilities. Inter-abled couples do exist, and relationships can form before or after a disabling event. Compared to inter-racial couples, however, inter-abled are not as common. Why? Well, it is thought that individuals with disabilities may be unconsciously internalizing the stigma and perspectives of society, which further negatively impacts their self-esteem, self-efficacy, motivation, and perceived sexual autonomy. This claim is supported by a qualitative study that gained the perspectives of individuals with disabilities on the topic of sexuality. A significant theme that emerged is the innate belief that their sexuality was not equal to or desired by individuals without disabilities. As such, they were reluctant to pursue inter-abled relationships due to fear of rejection, the partner resenting their disability and the possibility of the partner falling into a caregiver role.
In addition, stigma unknowingly creates various systemic barriers that further reinforce societal and self-stigma among individuals with disabilities, creating a negative counter-productive cycle. There is plenty of literature that highlights the ineffectiveness or inaccessibility of sexual education within secondary schools for individuals with both visible and invisible disabilities. Sexual education focuses on “normal” (that ugly word again) people. Hence, from a young age, we are setting up individuals with disabilities for failure by reinforcing self-stigma and neglecting to acknowledge their sexual being.
Regarding the healthcare system, a study suggests that only 6% of licensed health care professionals engage in frequent discussions about sexuality with patients/clients with half of them stating they avoid the topic due to embarrassment. Keep in mind, this statistic is regarding all individuals, disability or not, which is even more surprising given that sexuality is a crucial component of someone’s health and – more importantly – intrinsic to human nature. No wonder individuals with disabilities are adopting self-stigma if health care professionals shy away from this topic.
This is not about changing what you see as attractive. This is about challenging the opinion that individuals with disabilities are not capable of being sexy and can’t (or shouldn’t or don’t) engage in sexual behaviors. Not only are all people, disabled or not, able to engage in any and all sexual behaviors, but they also have wants, needs and desires like the rest of us. Healthcare professionals that shy away from, or avoid, this topic should consider discussing this aspect of health with patients/clients when appropriate by adopting a comfortable strategy (such as the ex-PLISSIT model).
If you have personally felt, or still feel, the self-stigma surrounding sexuality, please discuss it with a trusted family member, friend or healthcare professional. Specifically, Occupational Therapists are trained to be open about this concept and to problem solve the barriers to sexuality and engagement in sexual activity as a very important “occupation (aka life role)” for all of us.
If you are interested in reading more, I recommend The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability by Dr. Miriam Kaufman.
Remember: Disability is extremely broad and can impact people in multiple ways. As with all people, consent is always required when engaging in any sexual activity.
References:
1 Sinclair, J., Unruh, D., Lindstrom, L., & Scanlon, D. (2015). Barriers to Sexuality for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Literature Review. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 50(1), 3-16. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
2Miller, A. M. (2015, May 4). Asexuality: The Invisible Orientation? Retrieved from https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/05/04/asexuality-the-invisible-orientation
3Esmail, S., Darry, K., Walter, A., & Knupp, H. (2010). Attitudes and perceptions towards disability and sexuality. Disability and Rehabilitation, 32(14), 1148-1155. doi:10.3109/09638280903419277
4McDaniels, B., & Fleming, A. (2016). Sexuality Education and Intellectual Disability: Time to Address the Challenge. Sexuality and Disability, 34(2), 215-225. doi:10.1007/s11195-016-9427-y
5Jones, L., Bellis, M., Wood, S., Hughes, K., McCoy, E., Eckley, L., . . . Officer, A. (2012). Prevalence and risk of violence against children with disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. The Lancet, 380, 899-907. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60692-8.
6Dukes, E., & McGuire, B. E. (2009). Enhancing capacity to make sexuality-related decisions in people with an intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(8), 727-734. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2009.01186.x
7Haboubi, N. ,. J., & Lincoln, N. (2003). Views of health professionals on discussing sexual issues with patients. Disability and rehabilitation, 25(6), 291-296
8 Taylor, B., & Davis, S. (2006). Using the Extended PLISSIT model to address sexual healthcare needs. Nursing Standard, 21(11), 35-40. doi:10.7748/ns2006.11.21.11.35.c6382
Recreation therapists are certified professionals who work along with a team of health professionals to assist people in achieving optimal quality of life through participation in leisure and recreation.
Therapeutic Recreation Ontario defines Recreation therapy as “a process that utilizes functional intervention, education, and recreation participation to enable persons with physical, cognitive, emotional and/or social limitations to acquire and/or maintain the skills, knowledge, and behaviours that will allow them to enjoy their leisure optimally, function independently with the least amount of assistance and participate as fully as possible in society.”
February is Recreation Therapy Month. Learn more about this helpful therapy and how it can benefit those struggling with mental illness in the following care of CAMH.
CAMH: Enhancing life with meaningful activity
Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living.
For the month of February, our O-Tip series will help you to practice safe and efficient snow removal this winter.
Clearing snow is a necessity to ensure safety for yourself, visitors and passersby. Shoveling can be strenuous work, therefore it’s important to use the proper tools and techniques to reduce the risk of injury.
Whenever possible, push the snow rather than lifting. When lifting is needed, follow these tips:
Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living.
For the month of January, our O-Tip series will help you to get acquainted with your devices and the awesome accessibility features you may not be aware of.
If you struggle to hear your phone’s notifications or to feel the vibrations there is an additional option — the LED flashing indicator. This indicator light allows you to see when you have new notifications on your device. Here is a step by step guide on how to set up the LED flashing indicator for both Apple and Android devices.
For Apple Users:
For Android Users:
Do you find or make time for television, personal reading, social media, meditation, exercising, or hitting the spa? Then perhaps you can find time in your schedule to donate blood.
As a health care professional I am reminded daily that blood is a lifesaving resource. In fact, it is likely that most, if not all, of my clients were a blood recipient at their time of injury. Yet, according to Canadian Blood Services, there is a problem. As per their website, less than 4% of Canadians donate blood, while over 60% of people are eligible to do so. Reasons for non-donation include people having a fear of needles (a legitimate an insurmountable problem for many), but most people simply say they “don’t have the time”. Yet, Canadian Blood Services has estimated that as early as 2014 they will have a blood crisis as loyal and repeat donors (mostly seniors) will start exceeding donation age and will become recipients making the already large gap between low supply and high demand even larger. This gap will be worsened by the baby boomers over the next two decades. It is time the next generation takes on this important responsibility.
As someone that has never donated (under the category of “no time”), I have since realized that I make time for other things that I consider less important, so it is time for me to become a donor. I am doing this for several reasons. One, I have memories of my grandfather, a war veteran, wearing his red blood-drop pin. I always noticed his pin, worn proud on his lapel, and the thought of becoming a donor reminds me of him. Two, I have no fear of needles and can make the time because this is important to me. Three, Canadian Blood Services has made this easy – there is a donation center less than 5Km from my home and I was able to book an appointment online. Four, as a parent I want to model this behavior for my children. And five, I recently lost a client who told me that he needed 14 units of blood at the time of his injury and this was a “record”. His passing has motivated me to finally make the time for this important contribution.
My plan? Take a book, relax, and take an hour to myself while giving back at the same time. Based on my blood type after donating I will give myself a big A.
Previously posted June 2013
Let’s discuss the most dangerous room in the home: the bathroom. For those with limited mobility, or seniors, it is important to consider the fall risks that exist in the bathroom to ensure that people are safely able to go about daily routines. In the video below we will review bathroom hazards and will discuss the many suggestions an Occupational Therapist may make after a home assessment.
We hope you enjoy this video from our Occupational Therapy Video (OT-V) series and can use some of our tips to stay safe at home!
Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living.
For the month of January, our O-Tip series will help you to get acquainted with your devices and the awesome accessibility features you may not be aware of.
If typing on a smartphone or tablet is difficult for you, there’s a solution for that. “Talk to text” converts what you speak into text that you can input, email and or text to others. Just be sure to warn others about potential spelling mistakes that may occur! Here is a step by step guide on how to use the talk to text function on both Apple and Android devices.
For Apple Users:
For Android Users:
Julie Entwistle, C.Dir. (c), MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
Research suggests that up to 15% of people in Ontario experience the “winter blues”. These leave you feeling tired, groggy, and maybe even sad or irritable. While this causes discomfort, it is not incapacitating. However, a more serious form of the winter blues, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), can be. While occurring less frequently at 2-3% of the population, the symptoms can prevent individuals from leading a normal life. If you feel this is you, talk to your doctor and have your symptoms investigated.
While the winter months can be long, dark, and cold, ultimately how we adapt to the seasonal change is up to us. If moving or going south is not an option, consider some of the tips in our infographic below to make the winter bearable, or dare I say, even enjoyable?
