At my last fieldwork placement I got to watch a couple of driving assessments. Driving brings a person much freedom. Taking away the privilege can be devastating to some. This article gives some good tips on to talk with a loved one about their ability or non-ability to drive. I think the tips would apply to those of us who find ourselves working in situations where we would have to talk with client's about this subject.
This is a tough issue. I used to worry about my grandmother so much. She started having little fender benders. It is good for us to be aware as COTA's how significant driving or not driving can be to our clients.
The conversation regarding when someone should no longer drive could be quite hard. I found this website that gives advise on how to have this conversation. It discusses how to plan for it, how to bring it up, how to handle objections and the environment in which it should take place. It also talks about how to help the individual with the transition (finding other means of transportation, etc).
A company specializing in communication devices. The website gives you an option to choose your disability (ALS, TBI, Autism, etc) and recommends products that are associated with it. Also information on trouble shooting with products and questions related to training and using your device.
I love this sight because it explains children's occupations, and the need for children to receive OT in plain terms that all can comprehend. If you click on the word occupational therapists in the definition, it further defines OT. Thank you Kids Health for promotion occupational therapy!
This sight has all kinds of answers for families with questions about illness, OT, age related concerns etc. It has everything from puberty issues by gender to what is a coma. You even have the option to listen to their examples and explanations instead of just reading them.
This website offers resources for emotional and psychosocial issues, rehabilitation, sexual health, social issues, support programs, etc. for breast cancer survivors. Many of these areas fall under the occupational therapy domain.
I feel this is a great resource for individuals and their loved ones upon initial injury or diagnosis of an illness. It has short explanations about many different common conditions from spinal cord injury and questions one might have to psychological disorders. I feel it could be a great way for people to find out more if they wish to do it in a more private setting. It talks about sports, travel, school, work etc. It is based in Europe. Their ambassador's have disabilities so they have more insight than others might!
This site provides a virtual library that addresses questions about rheumatoid arthritis. Just click on the different sections and get info on things like preparing for your appointment and questions to ask.
This PDF gives information on the procedure of hemiarthroplasty to repair a fractured hip, as well as, great visual pictures of the body positioning during ADL's for hip precautions. I thought it would be helpful for someone like me, as an OTA student to visualize the correct preventative positioning during sitting, lying, driving, bathing, etc.
This was a very interesting article I read regarding a mind controlled bionic leg. The article is from 2013. It stated that there has been mind controlled bionic arms available for a while now. To date, only one man is testing the mind controlled bionic leg. He says he can walk, go up steps, etc just by thinking about the action taken. There is a very short video of him walking with it. Pretty amazing!
This webpage is a resource page in which provides the reader information regarding an individual's personal experience with COPD. I like that she up lifts the reader to encourage changing the negative thinking of "this is not a death sentence" etc. It answers questions as what the individual may be experiencing and offers resources to help people with COPD to be successful and an advocate in their treatments.
This was a good article to read about active aging. Active aging is continuing to participate socially, with families and friends, spiritual, economic affairs, etc. Being active as we age can help extend our life expectancy and quality of life. This article was a good reminder to me to stay active in my community, with my family, church family and friends as I age so as not to isolate myself as I grow older.
I found this website when I was looking for ideas on adaptive equipment project. There are a lot helpful tips that anybody can use to assist themselves with daily activities, such as preparing food, hygiene, computer use, bathing, etc.