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Archive for category: Solutions For Living

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Capturing the Moment or Missing it Altogether?

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

I love the song “Scare Away the Dark” by Passenger. Some of the lyrics have powerful insinuations: “we should stare at the stars and not just at screens”…”we want something real not just hashtag and twitter”…”we are all slowly dying in front of computers”. I believe there is significant truth to what he is saying. The technology pendulum has swung so far in the direction of obsession and I am personally looking forward to it bouncing back to some form of neutral.

If addiction is defined as “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice that is physically or psychologically habit forming to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma…or “usage of something that is beyond voluntary control” then I would argue that technology applies, and many people have a serious problem.

On a recent holiday the evidence of this was immense. On one occasion I saw three young women on a horse-drawn carriage ride (a $50 experience I might add) and they were all looking at their phones. Were they texting, tweeting, posting on FB “loving my horse drawn carriage ride”, or maybe playing candy crush, instagramming a photo, taking a selfie? Or the families sitting at dinner looking down, using their devices, essentially ignoring each other. Or the guy at the theme park videotaping his experience – he was even videotaping while a photographer was taking their family photo! I am not sure it matters what these people’s intentions were with their devices, but I felt that in perhaps trying to capture these moments they were missing them completely. Look around, talk to each other, take in the sights, sounds, smells, be mindful of the fragility of life and take a moment to be grateful for the experience. Connect. Engage. Smile at a person, not just a screen.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for capturing moments. But some moments need to be captured by our eyes and filed in our brain, not just on a device, memory card, or online. The concept of being present includes enjoying moments while you are in them – without living in the past or obsessing about the future. How can we do this? Enlightened Living suggests that being present involves recognizing that we can only do ONE thing at a time and thus we should engage wholeheartedly. Taking a photo while trying to absorb a moment are two tasks that cannot happen simultaneously. Thus why people feel that “life has passed them by”…they were never there to fully experience it in the first place.

So every once in a while check your addiction. Step away from your phone. Take technology away from your children. Leave it at home. Don’t take it on vacation. Set rules for technology behavior. In our house we have significant rules for screen use, including a 17 clause contract our daughter signed in getting her first cell phone at age 14. Rule # 1: The phone cannot be used to be mean to anyone – directly or indirectly. Rule # 2: Proper grammar and spelling must be used when communicating. Rule # 4 and 5: The phone is not allowed upstairs and cannot be used during family or meal times. Rule # 9: I will not use my phone to take photos or video of people without their permission. I will not post or share photos or video without consent of the people in them. Rule # 15: I will follow classroom and teacher rules for phone use when at school. Rule # 16: I understand this is not an appendage and obsessive use will not be tolerated. Rule # 17 is a list of reasons for repossession. My 14 and 12 year olds read the contract together. At the end my 12 year old said “so, what CAN she do”?

Do you feel sorry for my kid? Don’t. The real reason for the contract was not because she needs to be rigidly structured, but because I, as a new parent of a kid with a cell phone, was not comfortable with the entire concept in the first place. At 14 (and younger) kids are not developmentally able to understand and grasp the full impact of this new power in their possession. That is why there are recommended ages for Facebook (14), and age-specific laws for driving and drinking. They are young, naïve, immature, and still learning the ways of the world. I have a responsibility to be her guide, as effortful as that is. In the end, the contract worked to set out the expectations, establish boundaries, communicate about safety and proper use, and helped us recognize the need to adapt as a family to the transition of now raising teenagers, not just “kids”. But my true intent was to make sure that I don’t teach her, or worse, model for her, that technology trumps experiences, replaces in-person relationships, or is a valuable way to tick away the proverbial time bomb that is life.

So, try if you can to capture moments by being present, and by using your born faculties to photograph, store and file your memories – not just a device. Check in with yourself at times about your behaviors, track these, shock your system with some detox, set some boundaries and try to unplug.

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Just Say ” I Don’t” to Texting and Driving

Did you know that “texting while driving is the same as driving blind for 5 seconds at a time.” (VA. Tech Transportation Institute)
Last month on the blog we discussed the dangers of texting and driving in our post “LOL…OMG…RIP” and during Brain Injury Awareness Month we felt it was important to reiterate the dangers of distracted driving. The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA), has launched a website dedicated to the prevention of texting and driving. Check it out and sign the pledge to never text and drive.

www.idont.ca

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Gardening is Therapeutic—Make it Accessible for Everyone!

Gardening provides a therapeutic outlet mentally, emotionally and physically. It can provide exercise, fresh air and it is well known that spending time outside connecting with nature is good for your soul. Those with disabilities may find the bending, reaching and digging associated with gardening difficult. “Carry On Gardening” in the UK, in association with “Thrive”, is an organization that helps people with a wide range of disabilities to get into the garden. The following from their websites provides tips and guides on how to create and maintain an accessible garden.

Carry On Gardening:  Top Tips for Disabled Gardeners

 

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How To Promote Inclusion to Your Kids

The following from Abilities Magazine discusses great ways to proactively talk to children about disability and inclusion and how to react appropriately should your child ask an inquisitive question about someone they recognize as “different” when in public.

Abilities Magazine:  “Mom, What’s Wrong With That Man?”  Those Awkward Questions and How to Promote Inclusion and Acceptance Among Children

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Spinal Cord Injury 101 – Julie’s Picks

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

I think this is a great story.  My husband and I were in Orange County New York.  My husband was knocking “flying in a MIG” off his bucket list and I was there to watch (nervously).  The pilot of the MIG was telling us that the guy whose plane was in the neighboring hanger was an unassuming and humble Hollywood director with multiple Oscars.  Cool!  Well, just before take-off the director arrives.  Amazing!  He never comes on a Friday.  As my husband launches away at some crazy speed, I approach the director and tell him that I am a fan of his movies.  He is flattered and we enter into a conversation that he somehow turns into being about me.  When I tell him I am an Occupational Therapist he discloses that his son was recently diagnosed with a SCI after spinal surgery.  How awful.  I explained that this is actually my area of practice.  We spend the next hour talking about SCI and I filled him in on all the latest research from the Rick Hansen International Conference I had just attended.  I tell him about some of the great devices available, American organizations to talk to, and specialists in the field, and he gives me his personal email to send him links and to stay in touch.  He was elated.  He had no hope, no knowledge about his son’s condition, and didn’t know where to start.  I was shocked.  Shocked that a man with that kind of money, connections, and seemingly unlimited access to resources would not know where to turn, and more shocked that someone so famous found something I said useful.  Since then we have kept in touch by email and every once in a while I send him resources and magazines I think he will find helpful.  I am still blown away by that encounter, and definitely found that exchange more exciting than some plane that flies really fast.

According to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Ontario, there are 600 new cases of SCI in the province per year, and 85,000 people living with SCI across Canada.  Of new injuries, 42% are the result of trauma (falls, accidents, or violence), and 58% from non-traumatic causes (tumors, infections, diseases).  The extent of a SCI injury is classified by the resulting impairment, with tetraplegia (or quadriplegia) indicating that all four limbs and the trunk are involved, and paraplegia is when the trunk and legs are impacted but the upper extremities are not.  Contrary to popular understanding, quadriplegia does not mean “no use of the arms” it just means the arms are involved, and the amount of usage will depend on the level of injury.  The incidence of SCI is highest in adolescents and young adults from sporting injuries, car accidents and violence, then peaks again in seniors as the result of falls.

While the direct consequence of SCI is severe – mainly the inability to walk, bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction, and sometimes reduced use of the arms and hands, the secondary consequences can be just as devastating.  Physiological changes in temperature regulation and circulation, pressure sores from reduced sensation, weight gain, repetitive strain on the upper extremities as they become used for transfers and mobility, urinary tract infections, bowel issues, and of course the emotional side of adjusting to wheelchair use and reduced physical abilities are all common.

As a clinician with special interest in the field of SCI, spending the last 10 years of my career treating individuals with these problems, I have been able to gather a list of very helpful resources and equipment that most clients find useful.  In recognition of SCI Awareness Week, I wanted to share my top picks here.

Standing Wheelchairs – these chairs provide significant benefit to an individual with a SCI.  Allowing people to stand and bear weight through the legs is known to improve circulation and bone density, along with the added benefits of allowing someone to reach upper cupboards again, or to look people in the eye when talking (as an example, check out the Lifestand Helium chair online at http://www.permobilus.com/heliumls.php.

Free Wheel – for manual wheelchair users, terrain such as snow, gravel or sand can be difficult, if not impossible to manage.  The free wheel is a simple add-on that elevates the front wheelchair casters to make these terrains easier (http://www.gofreewheel.com/).

Smart Drive – manual wheelchairs can be difficult to use for long periods as our arms were never designed to be our source of mobility.  So, some people use a manual wheelchair indoors and for short distances, and a power wheelchair for longer distances and outdoors.  The Smart Drive bridges the gap between manual and power chair by providing a power-assisted method of propelling a manual chair.   This is helpful for long distances, up inclines, or to just get places faster. This is another simple add-on and only weighs 11 pounds making it easy to take on and off.  In Ontario it is also now approved by the Assistive Devices Program.  Check out http://www.quarthealthcare.com/index.php/smartdrive for more information.

Sensi-Mat – Pressure sores can be a significant problem for people with SCI as they lack feeling in their lower body that would normally tell them to shift their weight to relieve pressure.  Without pressure relief, areas of the skin can die due to lack of blood flow.  If not treated, the sore can bury deep into the skin and underlying tissue, become infected, and treatment usually involves sitting restrictions, significant bed rest, or even surgery to correct and cure.  The Sensi-Mat works to prevent pressure problems from occurring by providing the wheelchair user with data about their sitting patterns, including cuing about when to shift their weight.  If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the Sensi-Mat is a must for all people with SCI.   This new product will be available in June 2014 (http://www.sensimatsystems.com/).

SCI University – This is an online resource created by people with SCI to help others understand how to manage the many aspects of this condition.  Covering everything from nutrition to catheterization, this is also a “must check out” anyone with a SCI (www.sci-u.ca).

Abilities Magazine – This circulation is packed with useful resources, inspiring stories, and solid examples of people with SCI who are achieving amazing things.  Each issue highlights things from travel to sports and work, and includes helpful tips for not only disabled people, but is also very informative for the general public and rehabilitation professionals (http://abilities.ca/).

People in Motion – this free show, held on the first weekend of June in Toronto is packed with vendors highlighting the many wonderful products that exist for people with disabilities, including those with SCI.  From vehicles to home accessibility and wheelchairs, this is worth the drive to Toronto (http://www.people-in-motion.com/).

Of course, no person will experience a SCI the same, and the recovery from this, and ability to function safely and independently following, will depend on multiple factors.  Custom problems need custom solutions so if you have a SCI considering contacting an Occupational Therapist with experience in your condition to get solutions for living!

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Protect Your Noggin!

Last month on the blog we shared with you tips on bicycle safety and the importance of wearing a helmet. ( “Don’t Forget Your Helmet!” ) However, if the helmet isn’t the right fit or is not worn properly, it may defeat the purpose. With so many different styles and types, how do you know which helmet to choose and if the fit is right? The following from the Doctors of BC shows you how to properly fit a helmet and what to look for when making your purchase.

The Doctors of BC:  Bike Helmet Safety

 

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Turtle Twins (Part 2) – Treating Auditory Processing Disorder

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

In my previous post I explained that auditory processing disorder (APD) is like a game of “Operator” where a message is misinterpreted when travelling between the ears and brain.  This causes problems with communicating in noisy environments, following multi-step instructions, and wrongly hearing words, sounds and sentences.    The good news is that APD can be improved organically and through modifications to the functional environment.

Personally, my daughter was diagnosed in Grade 3 (age 8).  To understand her problems, I read several books on APD and copied some chapters for family.  I disclosed fully to my daughter the results of her testing and explained that sometimes her ears and her brain are hearing different things.  I wanted her to understand that at times, when things people say might seem funny, confusing or strange to her, she might have heard them wrong.  She was encouraged to ask questions about her ADP, and to never be shy about asking people to repeat themselves if needed.

At school, the teacher started wearing an FM unit to help best deliver instructions and teachings to my daughter who wore corresponding headphones.  The teacher and I put tennis balls on the classroom chairs to reduce noise.  My daughter was relocated near the teacher’s desk and away from the busy hall.  The door was closed (reducing background noise) during lectures.  She was allowed to write tests in the quiet resource room.  The teacher was provided a list of other classroom modifications to implement, including ways to breakdown instructions into smaller chunks to improve her retention and follow-through.  I talked to the teacher about the fact that when my daughter was reading in class (when she was supposed to do other things) to tune out classroom noise and / or because she missed the directions.

In sports, we noticed an issue with her playing basketball.  The sound of the balls bouncing on the floor made it difficult for her to hear her coach and the background noise in the gym during practice was a struggle for her.  At Karate, she would look around to see what the other kids were doing as she would miss instructions.  All of her coaches and Sensei’s were advised of her APD and started speaking more directly to her, asked her to repeat instructions, and tried to reduce background noise when possible.

We also made changes at home.  We took extra time to reduce background noise (difficult in a family with four kids), would reduce the number of instructions we gave her at one time, had her repeat these back to us, and developed a “roger that” mantra that she would say to indicate she got her instructions.  Our audiologist recommended Fast Forward, an online game designed to help improve APD.  While research does not conclusively confirm that this is helpful for APD, we decided to give it a try and she found it very helpful.  Ultimately, and for reasons other than just her APD, we moved her to a small school with very low class sizes and she is now thriving.  We still notice her APD at times, but she is very aware of this and is mature enough to understand that if something sounds wrong (i.e. turtle twins) she should politely ask for clarification.

 

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Stroke Recovery: “Knowing is Half the Battle”

Do you know the signs of a stroke? Sometimes these can be hard to see, and timing is of the essence, so you must think “FAST!” When a stroke is caught early and treated damage may be less and the recovery may be easier. May is Stroke Recovery Awareness Month and we want to share with you the following video which describes how to “FAST” – identify signs of a stroke.