Do you have, or are aspiring to have, a “green thumb” ? Or do you simply enjoy spending time beautifying your home or spending time connecting with nature? Whether you garden for pleasure or purpose you may from time to time suffer from a sore back and achy muscles brought on by the hard work and bending involved. The following article from the Toronto Star gives helpful tips on how to ergonomically garden without ending up with a sore back.
Like “happiness”, the word “normal” is one of those subjective words defined differently by all. Yet, in the world of disability, “normal” becomes a question. Can someone “live a normal life”, or are they “back to normal”? How do you answer these questions when normal is so hard to define?
On a recent holiday, I witnessed a woman with a disability engage in compelling acts of what I call “normal”. I was so taken by this that I had to take the below picture. What do you notice? The location of the wheelchair makes the owner of this unidentifiable. This was not an isolated event. Everyday I would see this wheelchair stashed somewhere – off to the side, in a deserted hallway, or almost out of sight. The wheelchair was so far removed from the person that it could never “define her” and really was just a means of transportation. I would watch her husband wheel her to the poolside, into the restaurant, or out in the theatre then she would transfer to a “normal” chair and he would move her wheelchair out of sight. True, maybe they just wanted this out of the way, but if the goal was practicality, she would not have taken the time and effort to transfer when sitting in the wheelchair for most things would be easier.
I believe that this woman just wanted to feel “normal”. She didn’t want to be recognized by her chair, and wanted to experience the world the way non-disabled people do – sitting on a pool lounger, in a dining chair, on a couch, or even in the water on a floaty. And who allowed this to happen? Her husband. He pushed her around the resort, secured her chair for transfers, moved this out of the way, and re-secured it when changing locations. I also saw him carry her in and out of the pool so she could float in the water, and he was her personal waiter for drinks, food and other items she needed that she could not obtain herself. In my world this is a perfect example of attendant care. Transfers, mobility, equipment maintenance, and ensuring comfort and security are all parts of the current form used by Occupational Therapists in auto (and WSIB) to calculate attendant care. So, let’s not underestimate the time someone might take to help someone feel “normal”, whatever that means to that person, in that environment and at that time. I believe “facilitating normal” is a valuable and important part of being an attendant and should be fairly represented in our calculations of care.
Whether you choose to wear designer sunglasses, knock offs, or an inexpensive pair from your local department store, research shows the important point is that you WEAR them. In the summer months especially many tend to focus on protecting their skin from sun damage and harmful UV rays, however, it is equally important to protect your eyes. Did you know your eyes can suffer a sun burn? The best way to prevent this and to protect your eyes is through the wearing of sunglasses. The following article from The Globe and Mail discusses the dangers sun exposure can have to your eyes and how you can protect them.
The Globe and Mail: How much damage does sunburn on the eyes cause?
I am not sure what the word “vertigo” refers to in U2’s hit song, but as someone living with vertigo, I can tell you it is not a place you want to be. Vertigo is highly unpleasant and can be caused by multiple factors including visual or auditory problems, or more commonly, head injury. I best describe my vertigo as my eyes and ears sending different messages to my brain regarding the position of my body in space. So, while my eyes tell me I am sitting still in a chair, my ears tell me I am on a boat in the middle of a hurricane. The result of these mixed messages is spinning, nausea, dizziness, problems walking, and ultimately dysfunction.
For me, my benign positional vertigo (BPV) lives in my right ear. As a result, I cannot lie on my right side, laterally flex my head to the right, lie flat with my neck extended, or look down into extreme flexion. While I can tolerate these movements momentarily, I cannot hold these positions for more than a few seconds otherwise I am sent into a spin that can last for days. I am fortunate to know my triggers and do my best to avoid them (no yoga for me). I have also learned, after living with this problem for two decades, how to catch my symptoms early to prevent a slight episode of dizziness from turning into days of bed rest.
When my clients experience vertigo, and describe this to me, I can fully appreciate where they are coming from. The story is a book I too could write. But, like other “hidden” ailments, I get concerned when the medical community does not take this complaint seriously. This is especially true in my industry where insurers and their assessors often want “proof” of a health problem to support someone’s recovery. While I recognize that people can be dishonest, my experience is that people don’t make this stuff up. Health professionals need to give people the benefit of the doubt, including insurance situations. To understand, or better yet, support someone with any “invisible” problem like vertigo, health professionals need to be compassionate, and should care enough to listen, to research and learn, and ultimately believe. Empathy, TRUST, and understanding will go a long way to support those that need it. I can only imagine how frustrating, devastating and angering it would be for someone to assume or opine that my “place called vertigo” is not a place at all: because, believe me, I live here.
I was a fortunate child who grew up with an inground 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, the other day 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.
Last year in my small community 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:
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, a “within arm’s reach” rule should always apply – whether they are in, or around, water.
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. Specialized gate locks 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.
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 jackets 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.
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”: http://www.rd.com/advice/parenting/8-quiet-signs-of-someone-drowning/.
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.
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.
Do you ever find yourself struggling to get out of bed in the morning? Or hitting a wall in the mid-afternoon needing a pick me up? Before you rush to your local coffee shop for quick caffeine boost, try utilizing some natural energy boosters. The following article from Alive Magazine provides tips on how to boost your energy naturally and effectively for the long run so you can avoid that short term rush from your additional cup of Joe.
While traditional medicine is quite advanced and has many remedies for what ails you, there is a greater focus on the mind-body connection and how the two acting in harmony can improve your overall health warding off many illnesses and health complaints. The following article by Alive Magazine discusses how to achieve a greater mind-body health connection. By utilizing stress reduction therapies, meditation, deep breathing, yoga, music and pet therapy and many more you can be on your way to achieving overall balanced wellness.
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
My work inspires me – everyday. And what I find most inspiring are those people who are able to turn a terrible or traumatic situation into something beautiful. I saw this first with Bob. When I was 19, in my undergrad and knowing I wanted a career in health care, I applied for a job as an attendant care aide. Despite having no experience and only able to offer a positive attitude and helping spirit, I got the job. Bob was my boss. Bob had been rendered a quadriplegic when he was hit by a car. Bob described his life before his accident as “miserable”. He was very open about his previous unhappiness and spoke candidly about how his accident helped him to turn his life around. As I worked with Bob for many years we became quite close. Overtime, he started telling me about the feelings he was having for one of his other attendants. I listened and encouraged Bob to share his feelings with her. He did, and discovered that the feelings were mutual. They were soon married. Bob and his new wife lived a wonderful life – they traveled, spent time with friends and family, and just truly enjoyed each other’s company. I remained in touch with Bob and his wife over the years and was saddened to hear of Bob’s passing a few weeks ago. At the visitation I hugged his wife and together we spoke of the wonderful years they shared, and the joy they brought to each other.
I believe that when Bob had his accident he had choices – maybe not physical choices to walk again, or to be able to regain full use of his hands – but he had emotional choices. He could have chosen to be miserable, grumpy and difficult to work for. Or, to withdrawal from others and live reclusively. He could have resumed his previous poor habits that rendered him so unhappy in his adult years. He also could have decided to keep his feelings for his attendant to himself, fearing rejection. But Bob’s accident made him realize the preciousness of life and this helped him to make all the right choices and decisions that ultimately brought him joy, love and happiness in his remaining years.
We can all learn from the Bob’s of the world. And luckily enough for me I have a caseload full of them.
Although it’s best to be prepared and know how to avoid sunburn and heat illnesses the hot summer can bring, sometimes our best efforts fail and we need to learn how to deal with the consequences. The following from the Government’s Healthy Canadians, will help you learn how to treat a sunburn or heat stroke, 2 very common summer health issues. Although prevention is the best method, it’s best to be prepared.
Healthy Canadians: First aid advice for sunburn and heat illness
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
A friend asked me to visit a colleague of his who was in hospital following a spinal infection. The spinal infection, and resulting surgery, caused paralysis and the gentleman was told he will not walk again. During our visit we spoke of the non-profit organization “Spinal Cord Injury Ontario” and the client’s wife told me the story of their first meeting with a Peer Support volunteer. She recalled that the volunteer (a paraplegic) entered their room and introduced himself. The wife politely thanked him for coming but told him they would not need his services as they strongly believe that her husband will walk again. The volunteer’s answer was brilliant – he told them that even though it has been years since his own accident, he too has not given up hope that one day there will be a cure for paralysis. He explained that he keeps himself in great shape as to always be prepared for that day. He told my friend’s colleague to never give up hope.
This conversation reminded me that hope is essential. As a health professional, I realized early that one of the key roles I play in the lives of my clients is to foster hope. Hope for a better future, for a solution to their current problems, and for a better way to manage. Even just discussing problems and brainstorming solutions elicits hope. Health professionals should never undervalue the importance of fostering hope – even if that is in the face of one huge challenge after another. Where hope becomes dangerous is when people are so busy waiting for “the cure” that they forget to manage in the meantime. Hope, like goals, is essential to survival, but so is survival in between. To forgo opportunities, solutions and help in the hopes of a future “fix” will only cause secondary problems that may be larger than the initial problem in the first place.
This philosophy is supported by most Chronic Pain Programs – they will not admit people to participate if that person is banking on a surgery, medication, or other therapy to “fix” them. Some problems are chronic, and learning to manage with the trials of life despite the problem is the only therapy. This should not squish hope – but rather should allow hope to live and breathe among optimal function.
I always try to remain hopeful. Hopeful for a better world for my children, for resolution of pain and suffering for my clients, for the health of others, and for my industry to remain a place where injured people can be adequately supported during their recovery. But I recognize that it is not always easy to feel hopeful. So, if you ever find yourself running on empty in the hope tank, try calling a supportive friend or family member, looking online (or on this blog) for inspiration, watching a funny or uplifting movie, getting some exercise, changing your scenery, or seeking support from a health professional. We are here for hope and help.