A HAPPY
MISTAKE
THE
Redefining the value of people with dementia
MAGAZINE Issue 32 | Jan/Feb 20 | Improving Independence
The building blocks of a brilliant intervention
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COLUM N S
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PRO DUC T S
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CPD
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EVENTS
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MENTAL HEALTH
Any chair…
Any colour…
Any size…
The answer is…
Yes! visit us online at www.primacare.co.uk or call 01685 845900
About us
The Team
Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writer: Katie Campbell Designer: Fionnlagh Ballantine Production: Donna Deakin Sales: Jacqui Smyth Contributors: Kate Sheehan, Kirstie Hughes, Rachel Johnson
This month’s issue...
Get in touch
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I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable festive season, spending time with those closest to you, hopefully the family arguments were kept to a minimum and you were able to recharge your batteries!
2A Publishing Ltd, Caledonia House, Evanton Dr, Thornliebank Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G46 8JT 0141 465 2960 ot-magazine.co.uk The OT Magazine @ot_magazine
Disclaimer
The OT Magazine is published by 2A Publishing Limited. The views expressed in The OT Magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher. Reproduction in part or in whole is strictly prohibited without the explicit written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2019 © 2A Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. ISSN-2056-7146
appy New Year!
Thank you to those of you who work in the NHS and who were holding the fort over the holidays, we know that each and every one of you will have made a difference to someone’s life with a kind word, a quick smile and your OT ability to help people regain their independence; a priceless Christmas gift. We are raring to take on 2020 and we hope you are feeling the same. Our first issue of the year kicks it off with a packed magazine, from looking at how to plan realistic New Year’s resolutions with your patients and how to keep your older clientele active and moving, to using podcasts for CPD and how to identify occupational burnout. Japan is a country we should all learn from; they treat their older generations with respect and have an unwavering work ethic. This all combines to produce creative and fulfilling projects, like The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders. This pop-up café employs people with dementia to offer them purposeful employment and to offer customers a great experience that opens their eyes to what life is like with dementia. You may get the right order, you may not, but the great thing is that all the food is delicious. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had an initiative like this in the UK? Our paediatric section has a fascinating article on how Pokémon Go can be considered an intervention and we have an events calendar to help you plan your year ahead. Here’s to a great 2020!
Cover image: Yuki Morishima (D-CORD)
The OT Magazine, Editor
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What’s inside 07 What’s New Bringing you up-to-speed with all the latest news from the health sector
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13 Kate Sheehan Regular columnist Kate Sheehan explains why OTs should be engaging with their professional bodies
14 Going Swimmingly We explore the importance of swimming as a rehabilitation exercise
17 Responding First Learning first aid is a brilliant skill for all medical professionals to have, including OTs
18 Product Focus The latest must-have products on the market
22 Loud and Clear How can OTs help prevent hearing loss disrupting ADLs?
25 Day in the Life Meet Jo Smith, a part-time community OT working in adult continence services
26 Notes on a New Year How occupational therapy can help clients achieve their resolutions for the new year
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29 Spoon-Feeding
Spoon Theory
Understanding spoon theory, and how it can help OTs and their clients understand chronic illness
30 Uncovering ME/CFS We explore the lack of education which surrounds ME and CFS
32 Fizzling Out Occupational burnout is real, dangerous, and can greatly affect your ability to work and live
34 Safety First Give your clients the low-down on how to move safely in bad winter weather
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51 Drive Safe Older people may struggle to drive as they get older, but how can OTs help maintain their independence?
52 The OT Show A round-up of this year’s events
57 Gotta Catch ‘Em All OT Kirstie Hughes explains the health and wellbeing benefits of playing the mobile hit Pokémon Go
61 Under the Covers
36 Product Focus More of the latest must-have products
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39 Beating the Blues Blue Monday is a load of rubbish, but the winter blues aren’t
40 A Happy Mistake We explore a Japanese restaurant changing the way people with dementia are viewed in the super-ageing society
Product
Focus
43 In the Toilet Charity Euan’s Guide are making sure all businesses treat accessible toilets with the respect they deserve
44 The Age to be Active We explore ways to get your older clients moving
Meet Mel Wood, creator of the life-changing sleeping aid, the Fidgetbum
64 Paediatric Products Innovative products for your younger clients
68 Neurokinex Kids A rehabilitation centre for kids with cerebral palsy
73 Transforming Lives The difference that having the right equipment available to clients on their ability to perform ADLs can be staggering
75 Ever Considered
Podcasts for CPD?
Lead OT at the Seashell Trust Rachel Johnson explains how podcasts can be a great way of getting in some fast CPD
76 Events Calendar Essential dates for your diary
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47 Protecting the Herd Coughs and sneezes spread diseases, so get up to date with your vaccine schedule
78 WFOT What could a membership to the WFOT offer you?
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Falls cost the NHS over ÂŁ2bn and 4m bed days per year* Consequently, falls are the number one factor for a person losing independence and going into long term care. The transition form sitting to standing often incurs the risk of falling. Whilst this task carries risk, a fall is not inevitable. Following an assessment, Handicare are able to provide support and equipment which will work for both the client and the carer. Visit the Handicare blog for assessment tips and considerations.
Visit the new Handicare blog:
www.handicare.co.uk For special deals and online sales visit
www.handicareshop.co.uk
T: 01384 405792 E: mhbsenquiries@handicare.com * Statistic from Public Health England 2019.
We explore what’s happening in the healthcare sector, from new products and services to inspirational stories
What’s new? SLEEPKNIT SMARTSHEET SUCCESS FOR MIP UK For the second year running, MIP UK scooped the Industry Innovation Award for promoting excellence in manual handling at the National Back Exchange Conference. At the event, MIP focused on offering a new approach to the issue manual handlers often talk about: carers not using the correct equipment.
SmartSheet design won’t allow for the repositioning of a patient, it simply stretches when pulled. At the National Back Exchange Conference, the MIP team talked to a number of manual handling experts who agreed this was a different way of looking at how to improve the use of slide sheets and correct handling equipment.
MIP suggested one solution to this problem could be updating your bedding to prompt the use of Slide Sheets with the SleepKnit SmartSheet. Unlike standard bedding, the 4-way stretch of the SleepKnit
The Industry Innovation Award is voted on by the conference attendees. The MIP UK team are delighted to have been awarded this recognition for their innovative contributions to the care industry,
WIN £1000 WITH THE COSYFEET OT AWARD
Entries are now open for the Cosyfeet Occupational Therapy Award 2020, which will see the winner scoop £1000 to put towards a special project of their choice that develops their professional skills while benefiting others. Cosyfeet are inviting OT students or qualified OTs to apply for the award, with the chosen winner being able to demonstrate how their project will advance their professional development while also being of value to their clients. Projects can include voluntary work, placements, research, or other initatives. Last year’s winner was Ann Drea, a band 6 locum OT, who wanted to use the money to purchase equipment which would help
by the experts who deliver the care across the country. In 2018 MIP UK won the Innovation award for their Swift System, the washable, in-situ bed repositioning system that’s actually affordable. To find out more on MIP UKs innovative repositioning solutions, please contact MIP on 01525 218146 or visit mipuk.co.uk.
facilitate a quick and safe return home for clients referred by Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s A&E department and acute access unit. Ann said: “In January to March 2019, our team received 401 referrals, resulting in 143 safer discharges and 116 instances of admission avoidance.” “Having a stock of assessment equipment for clients to try out with instruction means we can more readily involve clients and their support network in their safe return to self-management.” To apply for the Cosyfeet Occupational Therapy Award, visit cosyfeet.com/otaward. The closing date for applications is 24 April 2020. -magazine.co.uk
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PERSONAL WHEELCHAIR BUDGET REPLACES VOUCHER SCHEME A change in legislation will see all disabled children and adults across England have the right to a Personal Wheelchair Budget (PWB), which will replace the voucher scheme which currently exists. Assessments will still be carried out by wheelchair service teams, and patients will still see the same clinical team and occupational therapists. However, the PWBs’ main difference is the place where the funding comes from, which intends to produce a more outcome-focused system, and the assessments.
Assessments will take into account more than just the height and weight of a child, and whether they can walk or self-propel; it will also see what families wish to achieve with the equipment and outcomes they wish to meet. The funding for PWBs will be pooled from social care, access to work, education and charity funding, as opposed to the NHS funding which supplied the vouchers. Children’s charity Newlife were instrumental in enacting the change, and were invited to sit on the
Uber thank NHS staff for hard work over Christmas Global taxi giant Uber gave NHS staff a break over Christmas, offering anyone who works for the health service £20 off Uber Eats deliveries or Uber taxis over the festive period as a thank you for all their hard work. Uber offered the credit to any member of NHS staff who registered with their work email, letting them get money off food deliveries or taxis between 23 and 27 December. Head of Uber in the UK Jamie
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Heywood told the Mirror: “We all know someone who works tirelessly over Christmas to keep the NHS running and this is our way of saying thank you. “For the third year, we’re offering NHS doctors, nurses and support staff a helping hand to get to and from work at Christmas time, when public transport is limited. This year, it’s fantastic to extend the offer to provide a free meal to help make those shifts a little easier.”
NHS national steering group that encouraged the more accessible system. Clare Dangerfield, Newlife’s campaigning and public affairs manager, said: “We welcome the change in law that will mean disabled children across England have the legal right to a PWB. “We’ve worked alongside NHS England and the Department of Health to support this, and as the largest charity provider of specialist equipment for disabled children across the UK we see every day the difference this will make.”
ASKSARA LAUNCHED IN SCOTTISH BORDERS Launched by the Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) AskSARA is an online resource that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, that offers advice and guidance on how to lead an independent life. The website is clear and easy to use; simply answer a few questions about your health and daily activities and you will receive a report written by an occupational therapist with recommendations for advice and support. The report may suggest that you need further assessment and if so, it will provide you with information on how to access this.
Released on 5 December, the use of AskSARA in the Scottish Borders contributes to the #YourPART campaign that is transforming how Health and Social Care will be delivered in the future. Councillor Tom Weatherston, executive member for adult social care said: “People are increasingly willing and able to exert more choice and control over the things that will make a difference to their lives but with so much information available online, it can be difficult to know what can be trusted. AskSARA is an award-winning, tested resource
Rochdale OT wins NCA Award Occupational therapist Linda Sadler was recognised at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group Staff Awards last month for her fantastic work on a new OT-led project at Rochdale Infirmary’s Wolstenholme Unit. Linda was praised for her creation of the Breakfast Club, a therapy assessment breakfast area where OTs are able to perform assessment on multiple patients at a time. The club encourages patients to improve selfcare skills and gain self-confidence, which in turn, promotes a timely and safe return to their home. The awards also saw an appearance from special guests Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful
that provides expert advice and information on products and equipment that can help you, or someone you care about, with your health, your home or your daily activities. “With access to over 10,000 daily living products from up to 1,000 recognised suppliers, it has the potential to be of significant help to people and I would encourage anyone who thinks they may benefit to go through the self-assessment process and take advantage of the personalised guidance that AskSARA provides.”
Looking for an OT job? football manager in British history, who credits the NHS as the reason for his recovery from a brain hemorrhage, and BBC presenter Nicky Campbell, both of whom had received treatment in the Salford Royal Hospital. Sir Alex Ferguson told guests: “The main reason I am here today is to thank the NHS, once again, for what they did for me, and that’s the reason I am standing here today in good health, so thank you very much.”
ot-magazine.co.uk/jobs
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STUDENT OT WHO STREAMED OWN BRAIN SURGERY GRADUATES Jenna Schardt, the student who streamed her own brain surgery in October, has graduated with a masters in occupational therapy from Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. Tens of thousands of people watched the 45-minute long livestream of Jenna’s surgery at the Methodist Dallas Medical Centre, as she answered doctor’s questions while they performed surgery and mapped her brain. The hospital’s chief of neurosurgery,
Dr Nimesh Patel, who also narrated the procedure, said that they were approached by Jenna before her surgery in the hope that she could livestream, but they were somewhat hesitant.
supported her because of that.”
Dr Patel said: “We struggled with the idea of doing a Facebook Live brain surgery, but because Jenna was so forthcoming and she wanted to show the rest of the community if you have this problem you can fix it, she was a role model for us and we
During her graduation speech, she told her fellow new alumni: “Today, take in this moment, and when life does happen, because it will happen, just say to yourself, ‘The comeback is always stronger than the setback.’ Don’t ever give up.”
Specialist seating company publish children’s book Yorkshire Care Equipment, a Harrogate-based specialist seating company, have created an adorable book that introduces their new Little Lento chair to children and occupational therapists. The fully illustrated book called The Adventures of Little Lento tells the story of a Little Lento chair who supports a little girl called Jessica as she grows up. Author of The Adventures of Little Lento and managing director at Yorkshire Care Tristan Hulbert said: “The idea to write a children’s book came to me quite suddenly. We’d already been developing Little Lento 10
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for about a year when it first crossed my mind one evening as something that could be a fun idea. From there, I just started writing and the story came together.” “We’re all really pleased with the end result. The story captures how important a properly fitted care chair is. For many of the children Little Lento was developed for, their chair is where they spend most of their time. The real Little Lento might not speak or have a friendly smile, but it does provide comfort and support that can be life-changing.” The Little Lento chair was designed with both children and adults under
Jenna’s surgery was to remove a mass that had formed in her brain that had been affecting her speech, and was likely to cause her to experience seizures.
5ft 2in, and launched at this year’s OT Show where it was showcased alongside their original Lento Care Chair, which launched in 2017. Padraig Finn, band 6 physiotherapist at Yorkshire Care Equipment, said: “The response we’ve had to Lento from OTs, relatives and the users themselves have been amazing. It’s really changed people’s quality of life, making them more comfortable and able to socialise more as well as supporting their physical healthcare needs.” “When we spoke to paediatric OTs they highlighted the need for something like Lento that worked for children. Equipment loan stores and SEN schools were struggling with the cost and waste of bespoke care chairs that fit a child for a year or two but then couldn’t be readjusted to reuse. Little Lento will really help tackle this. It can grow with a child for many years and then be easily cleaned, resized and used again.”
Pro-care Turn Bilateral Turning Air Mattress
Suitable for patients with very high to high risk of pressure injuries. 30º of bilateral rotation therapy to enhance pressure relief. 3-in-1 therapy available for individual healthcare plans with effortless patient repositioning. Seat Inflation offering extra support in sacral area during sitting position. Heel relief function- Single air-cell deflation can float the heels with zero-pressure. Visual and audible alarms Transport mode- non-stop static pressure relief for more than 6 hours during power failure or transport.
£100 off 1 item, £150 off 2 items or more please quote OTMAGXMAS to redeem offer
T: 01905 774695 E: sales@apexmedicalcorp.co.uk www.apexmedicalcorp.co.uk @ApexMedicalUK
Kate Sheehan Director, The OT Service
The OT Service provides high quality advice, consultancy and training to manufacturers, retailers and service providers. It also provides occupational therapy clinical services in housing and equipment to case managers, solicitors and private individuals via its handpicked network of occupational therapists. For more info email kate@theotservice.co.uk
ENGAGING
WITH YOUR
PROFESSIONAL BODY
There are around 40,000 registered occupational therapists in the UK and approximately 71% are members of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). For those like me who sometimes struggle with understanding the relationship with the two organisations above, the simple description is as follows: BAOT – the professional body representing OT across the UK. RCOT – a registered charity and is a ‘wholly owned subsidiary’ of BAOT BAOT is funded mostly by the membership fees we pay annually and is a membership led organisation. As members we can influence or change its direction, support or challenge its approach and hold it accountable, however we can only do this if we are engaging with the decision makers. It is very easy to sit there and grumble about what they are or are not doing, I often have and continue to do so, but to promote change we need to be engaging head on with the influencers of our professional body and to support them with their strategic intensions. The strategic intensions are for 20182023:
1 Position the profession and our members for the 21st century, 2 Enhance the profile of the profession to a range of audiences, 3 Ensure RCOT is a thriving membership organisation within which members flourish. None of us would disagree with the above, however I am slightly worried that we are only thinking of the 21st century two decades into that century! So how do we get involved, as time is always precious to us? If we could all provide one hour a month to volunteer work that would have a significant impact on raising our profile and promoting the value of our profession. For example, you could: 1 Offer to support a specialist section, by being on the NEC or running a regional group, 2 Write an article for a local paper on an OT intervention (GDPR compliant of course), to show what OT can do, 3 Write a short piece to support the ‘Small Change, Big Impact’ initiative rcot.co.uk/otweek/ help,
more people involved the less work each one of us has to do, 7 Attend a careers event and shout about OT, 8 If you are really engaged put yourself forward to be a council member, 9 Write to BAOT expressing what you would like to change, 10 Follow @thercot twitter page and respond to their posts. We really need to be in it to be able to change and influence our professional body and only we can do that as members, so let’s get volunteering in 2020 and make our professional body what we want it to be. I have taken my own advice and have been co-opted onto the West Midlands Regional Committee and will be supporting their events throughout the year, so as a blatant advert, please do come along to our regional meeting on 29 February at Worcester University and see what you can do for occupational therapy. Visit bit.ly/2qHACGO to find out more.
5 Fill in one of the BAOT online surveys,
“A small change can make a big difference. You are the only one who can make our world a better place to inhabit. So, don’t be afraid to take a stand.” Ankita Singhal
6 Join a regional committee, the
Have a wonderful 2020.
4 Take part in a regional or specialist section event,
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GOING SWIMMINGLY Swimming is a terrific rehabilitation exercise for older people who may lack confidence or ability in other low-impact exercises.
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e could overanalyse, ruminate, and destroy the absolute joys of swimming by breaking the finer points of the activity down to its minutiae, but the reality is that any water baby knows the high of being in a body of water. In water, you feel weightless. A strong swimmer feels in control, powerful, and capable. For someone whose body or mind frequently does not feel like their own; who struggles to comprehend their life with disability or mental illness; or who simply does not feel confident in both their body and their body’s abilities, it can trigger such a powerful release of endorphins. Of course, there is the science of swimming: buoyancy keeps us prone to the meniscus of the water, while physics explains the ins and outs of the motion and kinetic energy which propels us. But the science can’t really explain to the layman how good it feels to be able to propel yourself with your own power up and down a pool, especially if you feel like your body’s not working in the way you want it to on dry land. As we get older, we feel a chasm opening between what we expect of our body based on our lived experiences and what our bodies are in fact capable of. With age comes the inevitable decay of our muscles and mind, unless we’re working up to being a chess grandmaster and bodybuilder in one neat package at 75. An inevitability of our movement
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Water will support around 90% of a swimmer’s body weight through buoyancy, meaning that it prevents too much pressure being put on the joints during rehabilitation into old age is that parts of our body may fail; our risk of heart disease increases, our chances of having a stroke increases, and so do many other things – all of these outwith the boundaries of our lifestyles, too, which can have additional positive or negative effects. What purpose then does swimming have in our lives as we get older? It’s vitally useful as a form of rehabilitation that can help promote recovery, and a healthier lifestyle. Swimming has so many uses in a rehabilitation context, as do the associated activities of exercising in water.
LOW IMPACT EXERCISE It’s tricky to find a group of people who agree totally on what the definition of a “low impact exercise” actually is. The most common definitions are ones which describe low impact sports as ones where you have at least one foot on the ground at each time, where others define it as exercises which are gentle on the joints. Water will support around 90% of a swimmer’s body weight through buoyancy, meaning that it prevents too much pressure being put on the joints during rehabilitation. Older people, especially women, lose bone density as they age, so waterbased exercise will allow them to focus on strengthening muscle and rehabilitating injuries without putting additional pressure on joints. It also provides a safe and comprehensive form of exercise for people with joint or back conditions.
IMPROVING CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH For individuals who are sidelined due to other health concerns, swimming can be a terrific way of maintaining good cardiovascular health. Due to the water supporting the vast majority of a swimmer’s weight, it can be difficult to anticipate exactly how hard they are exercising when
in the pool. In that respect, those with pre-existing heart conditions – like angina – must be extremely careful and consult with their GP or heart specialist before undertaking swimming as a form of rehabilitation. On the other hand, patients who may be looking to lose weight, but are struggling with painful joints or other conditions which may see them struggle to work out might find swimming to be an ideal way to achieve their goals. Swimming may also be offered to patients who are looking to rehabilitate themselves after incidents of poor health involving their heart, but professionals should take care to ensure they do not overtax themselves or damage their breastbone, which may take between ten and 12 weeks to heal post-surgery.
ACCESSIBILITY A 2017 study noted that there is a grand total of 3,158 pools in the UK, with 84% of the population living within two miles of the pool. The Equality Act 2010 specifically applies to leisure centres, swimming pools, and health and fitness clubs, meaning that facilities across England, Scotland, and Wales are obligated to make reasonable adjustments for patrons. This could mean holding lessons for people who live with learning difficulties, or providing means other than stairs by which to enter the pool for those who may be unable to use them. The availability of pools in the UK, and the fact that over three quarters of people in the UK live less than two miles from them, make them perfect places in which to prescribe rehabilitative activities. A more confident swimmer who does not fear the Great British Summertime could also use one of the UK’s many lidos, or even join a sea swimming club. For older people, most councilrun swimming pools, and many privately owned leisure facilities, provide concession prices, which promotes it as an affordable and safe way to exercise.
the science can’t really explain to the layman how good it feels to be able to propel yourself with your own power up and down a pool
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Fit to work
Get drivers back on the road sooner by recommending the osteopath-designed Morfit custom-fitting lumbar support. 25% of all adults suffer from lower back pain*. With over 40 million drivers in the UK**, that means 10 million people – many of them your clients – who might be distracted or even prevented from driving. Morfit provides long-term reduction in pain. Using air-set technology, Morfit moulds itself to fit the vehicle seat to the driver, then holds that shape to provide solid, lasting support. Support that makes driver and their vehicle fit for work. For more information visit morfit.co.uk or phone 07757 541144.
*
RHMHRA Class 1 Medical Device. The Prevalence of Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 1996 to 1998. Walker, Bruce F. ** Statistical releases Department of Transport March 2018.
RESPONDING FIRST You may not be a nurse or doctor, but it’s still important as a healthcare professional to know how to treat minor cuts and injuries, and know when it’s time to escalate these issues to the professionals.
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irst aid is an incredibly useful skill for anyone to have, not just occupational therapists or people who work in the health sector. In places like South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, OTs are required to have the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with any minor workplace emergencies, which includes small injuries, blood sugar-related conditions, CPR, and knowledge of the recovery position. It’s a vitally useful skill to have not only as an OT, but as a member of staff in any workplace, which may require someone by law to be named as the office’s first aider, dependent on the size of the business. You might think, why is it so important that I learn how to deal with little cuts and bruises? Learning first aid is so much more than that; with some accidents, the first few minutes of medical assistance provided can absolutely mean the difference between life and death, so your knowledge of what to do in an emergency is more than just a good thing to jot down on the old CV. There are loads of ways to learn first aid, and if you’re already in an office environment, you can even get your company to pay for your training!
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It can be carried out in person or online, but to be certified as a first aider, you have to both learn and perform your training in front of a qualified first aid teacher. If you’re unsure of where to start with first aid, the vast majority of certified courses in the UK are carried out by the British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, or St Andrew’s First Aid in Scotland. You can learn both adult and paediatric first aid; paediatric and children’s first aid will of course be a more useful thing to learn if you work with children! Specialist courses can also be created by these charities to help those who work with vulnerable people, like older people or those who live with drug and alcohol addiction.
and assisting with trauma. You’ll also be taught techniques like CPR and the Heimlich manoeuvre, which can save the life of someone who is choking.
“if you’re already in an office environment, you can even get your company to pay for your training!”
Many of the workshops carried out by these organisations and charities can last between one day and three, depending on the intensity of the course. Over the course of your workshop, you’ll learn valuable information like how to examine a casualty, how to use a defibrillator, controlling bleeding,
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Product FOCUS Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your clients.
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ACTIVE HANDS MUSIC GLOVE
Liven up physical therapy with the use of this fun and engaging musical game. A hand therapy device, the Music Glove is clinically proven to improve hand function in two weeks. The wearer simply plugs the glove into a PC or Mac, puts the glove on their hand, and begins playing the music game. 01564 702255 | activehands.com 2
WHEELCHAIR HEATERS BASIC MODEL
Utilising technology made by Sit & Heat for their heated stadium seating, Wheelchair Heaters offers three different models with a variety of luxurious settings, including sensors and an assortment of battery options. This model has a heated backrest to keep clients toasty through the winter months. 01225 941061 | wheelchairheaters.co.uk
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CPR GUARDIAN II SMART WATCH
Get clients on the smartwatch bandwagon with the CPR Guardian II, which will help patients who live with dementia or Alzheimer’s remain independent while giving their family peace of mind. It has an emergency SOS button, smart GPS tracking, two-way calling, and a heartrate monitor. And of course, it’s also a watch. 0203 870 3874 | dementia.livebetterwith.com 4
SLIMERENCE ELECTRIC HEATED VEST
With five carbon fibre heating pads, this vest is perfect for protecting against the harsh cold of the winter months. The gilet features a builtin heat protection module which prevents overheating to keep the wearer safe. Charged via USB, it can be recharged with a portable power bank, and features a three-gear temperature control. amazon.co.uk 5
MUSHER’S SECRET PAW PROTECTION WAX
For clients with guide or support dogs, paw wax is a must through the winter months, as it prevents their dogs’ paws from being hurt by the cold weather, salt and ice. This food grade wax forms a breathable barrier over the paw, and soothes already dry or cracked paw pads, alleviating discomfort in animals. amazon.co.uk
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DOMYOS E SEAT EXERCISE BIKE
Encourage clients to get a full, wellrounded workout at home while the weather outside is terrible. This exercise bike helps the user gradually work their heart while toning the lower body muscles. Simple to set up and use, the bike connects to a map to record exercise data, or the Kinomap app, which allows the user to travel over “real” scenery. 0207 064 3000 | decathlon.co.uk 7
BRISTOL ENERGY IN-HOME SMART METER
Bristol Energy recently launched these free-of-charge additions to customers’ smart meters which feature a number of accessible features, including text-to-voice technology, which will allow people with additional needs more control over their electricity and gas usage. The smart meters are free to customers with no additional installation cost. 0808 281 2222 | bristol-energy.co.uk 8
TRIO ELITE ADHESIVE REMOVER
Removing medical adhesive can be extremely painful, and the skin that surrounds a stoma is extremely sensitive and can become sore and irritated easily. Trio Elite adhesive remover is a silicone adhesive remover designed to facilitate the gentle removal of ostomy pouches. The propellant does not feel cold and has a controlled directional spray. 0800 531 6280 | trioostomycare.com
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Hearing loss is a significant issue faced by older people, and can also have devastating effects on the development of young people. How can OTs help prevent hearing loss disrupting ADLs?
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s occupational therapists, it is your job to re-establish a person’s place within society and their ability to carry out their activities of daily living after something interrupts that natural process. That could be anything; ageing can get in the way of ADLs, as can a car accident that leaves a patient unable to use an arm, or a progressive disability that may remove a client’s ability to function as they once did. Your interventions can make the difference between independence and being prevented from taking part in ADLs successfully. It’s no small task. How, then, does an occupational therapist help someone who is living with hearing loss? Our ability to hear is one of the primary senses that connects us to the world; for someone who may have been able to hear for 30 years and is suddenly plunged into a world of abject silence, this requires a massive overhaul of their life. Not only will they require significant adaptations to their home and many of the objects they interact with on a daily basis, they will find the way that they interact with society changes in an instant. As much as we push for a subscription to the social model of disability, the foundations of our world are based on being able to see and hear. How can an occupational therapist help and encourage a person with hearing loss to reintegrate themselves with a world they may struggle with for no fault of their own? Hearing impairment can arise in a huge number of ways, much like any other impairment. There are degrees of hearing loss – mild to profound – and of course, it can manifest in a huge number of ways. Hearing loss can be a combination of permanent and non-permanent, affect the client for the rest of their life, or their hearing can return to a “normal” level 22
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Our ability to hear is one of the primary senses that connects us to the world
after a period of time. Clients can be impacted with hearing loss due to genetic factors, infections during pregnancy, infections, or head trauma. This is not an exhaustive list of reasons, as hearing impairment is co-morbid with a large number of diseases, including diabetes, and as a direct result of some cancer medications. With children, occupational therapy approaches can help their development, as hearing loss in children can result in a number of developmental issues, including language and speech delay or
disorder, sensory processing problems, difficulties in maintaining attention, behavioural problems, issues relating to balance, and problems with reading or spelling. OTs may see a number of common features in children who are living with hearing loss. The child’s speechsound system may be delayed, they may get frequent ear infections, they may be having difficulties at school, they may not respond to loud and sudden noises, and they may show poor coordination. While parents may query why they should take their child to an
occupational therapist for mild hearing loss, the implications that it can have later in life can negatively affect their child’s quality of life. The child may struggle to follow instructions as they grow up, have difficulty speaking and writing, suffer from low self-esteem, develop anxiety or suffer stress, and fail to perform academically.
The presence of technology in our lives means this can be alleviated through apps and assistive technology. From your position as an OT, you can recommend alerting systems for home safety, assistive listening devices, internet captioned telephone services, and many more services. Having knowledge of services like SubtitleDroid (an online service for finding subtitles for movies and TV shows), and Verbally (an augmentative and alternative communication app) will encourage people who live with hearing loss to engage with both people and entertainment which can alleviate bad mental health. Recommendations can also be made to provide adults with devices which can improve their hearing. This can include hearing aids, implantable devices, loop systems, assistive listening devices, and communication technology. Secondary symptoms may also persist which occupational therapists can assist in the alleviation of. Tinnitus is a significant problem for people who live with hearing loss. Tinnitus is the presence of sound where no external sound is present, and is very likely to be induced by noise-induced hearing loss, ear infections, or other issues where it is a secondary factor to hearing loss. It can appear as a high- or low-pitched background noise which is present under all other noises; for some it sounds like an alarm clock ringing relentlessly, for others it’s the sound of an old CRT television tuned to a dead channel.
These issues don’t only affect children; adults who live with hearing loss are also at significant risk of developing depression due to isolation, suffer a significant loss of self-esteem, and suffer significant disruption to occupation. Older people are at a greater risk of hearing loss, which is simply an aspect of ageing. By age 65, one out of three people will be experiencing hearing loss, per HLAA. For adults, the most important aspect of addressing their hearing loss is to teach them how to adapt their everyday life to one which facilitates their loss of hearing.
with hearing loss. Whether the intervention is applied to a child or an adult, it can promote a more positive living experience, a better chance at succeeding academically, and prevent the loneliness that can come as a result of losing what is functionally one of our primary ways of interacting with the world around us.
DID YOU
KNOW? Clients can be impacted with hearing loss due to
GENETIC FACTORS INFECTIONS
DURING
PREGNANCY INFECTIONS ~ OR ~
HEAD TRAUMA
Given that it cannot be cured, the intervention of an occupational therapist can help alleviate the disruption to lifestyle that tinnitus can cause. The recommendation of hearing aids or white noise machines (or apps) can help to mask the sound, or prompt the brain to ignore the frequency of the tinnitus. Many therapeutic approaches to helping those who live with tinnitus are not supported by medical evidence, so taking a wide approach and trying a host of interventions will have no negative effects on the client. Regardless of the approach taken, the intervention of an occupational therapist can greatly increase the quality of life of a person who lives -magazine.co.uk
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n i y a d A . ith Jo Sme community
im S part-t es NH Jo is a r South Te . She y OT fo tion Trust a iversit Found rom the Un nd 003 a ated f gradu esside in 2 years in of Te for many tial siden d worke /surgery, re current ine her medic ation and nce OT. it e il in rehab as a cont is e rol
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Jo
Describe a typical day…
I am a member of a community continence team comprising of nurses and healthcare assistants working over five days. Referrals are encouraged to be made via health professionals ensuring that first line treatment has been trialled before secondary care can take place.
Once a client has seen a specialist continence nurse and has been assessed to establish which type of urinary incontinence they have - a patient may have functional incontinence, so a home assessment can then be carried out to assess a person’s functional ability to transfer on and off the bed, a chair, a toilet and look at how they mobilise. A person-centred treatment plan using a compensatory method is devised and carried out. Provision of toileting programs and toileting equipment including; urinals, urine directors, male external devices (sheaths/penis pouches), commodes, bespoke toilet chairs, raised toilet seats, bio bidets and bottom wipers, as well as signposting to any other services.
Examples of referrals include patients who have continence issues, urinary and faecal or both, and who are diagnosed as having functional incontinence – where a person’s function affects their continence – lack of mobility, cognitive impairment and reduced dexterity. An assessment of a person’s level of function and identifying the toileting issues can devise a treatment plan. Areas of intervention include cognitive assessment, personal care, mobility accessing social activities, giving confidence to access local communities, including using toilet finder applications, the Radar Key scheme and accessing changing facilities within toilets.
we talk to a differen occupati onal thera t pist to see wh at a typic a l day is for the ma a little mo nd explain re about their role.
Smith
What is your current role?
Pad usage and costs can be reduced through good continence care. The monthly costs of pads is estimated at: daytime £34-73, night time £43-64. It is estimated that the NHS spends around £80 million per year on product costs.
Each month ..
For example, a client following a stroke was unable to get to the toilet in time due to hemiparesis. Provision of a urinal, commode and raised toilet seat along with fluid advice (avoiding caffeine, sweeteners and alcohol) were offered. This allowed the client to empty their bladder in time, stopped urinary accidents and prevented the patient from wearing pads. Pads cost the NHS billions of pounds
per year and this will continue to increase. Therefore it is about compensatory treatment and pads are not necessarily the answer. It is beneficial to have an occupational therapist assessing the mental health, wellbeing, function and long-term goals of patients, to maintain patients’ independence and keep them at home longer, reducing costs to other healthcare settings.
What’s the best part of your job? Being able to talk and assist people, making a difference to an embarrassing topic and giving patients’ confidence and freedom to enable them to live their lives again.
Pads cost the NHS billions of pounds per year and this will continue to increase -magazine.co.uk
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NOTES ON A NEW YEAR Your clients will be making resolutions for the new year, so why not get involved and help them improve their lives through occupational therapy?
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If a goal seems achievable and a change seems attainable, your clients are more likely to strive to maintain the changes you’ve agreed to their lifestyle in order to make these positive changes. It’s the same principle as anything else in our lives: something small, regardless of how hard it is, is always going to get prioritised over the larger changes which seem monstrously difficult due to their size. If it’s simple and small, it’s going to get done, no problem.
he arrival of a new year does not necessitate the demand for a “new you” for you or your clients. Just because it’s 2020 instead of 2019, doesn’t mean you have to start going to the gym or give up smoking, despite the fact that you should definitely exercise often and consume fewer harmful substances. It’s fallacious to think that just because you’ve had to put up a different calendar that you need to be some kind of better version of yourself, otherwise you’ve failed. With the movement from December into January, we convince ourselves that this is going to be our year to climb Kilimanjaro or learn Latin, but if we focus too hard on these large things, we’re going to miss the smaller changes that would better serve us in the long run. A grand total of 8% of us achieve our resolutions. Eight whole percent. You’ve got to wonder, why did 92% of people fail? It’s likely that they set their sights too big. It’s so easy to decide you’re going to learn Latin, but can you actually learn it? It’s really hard. Are you sure you can learn it? Seriously – there’s a reason it’s a dead language. How then can you and your clients come together to ensure you’re making actionable change, inspired by resolutions, which they can actually complete?
MAKE Small CHANGES Keep it small, and keep it simple. The simpler the goal, the easier it is to complete. The same goes with the size of their goal; if you set a series of small goals, you’re more likely to commit to keeping them. 26
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The arrival of a new year does not necessitate the demand for a “new you”
SETTING Goals
By breaking down one large goal into multiple smaller goals, you’re going to have a much easier time sticking to your overall resolution. Once you’ve completed one goal, you’re aware you’ve got something new to aim for. For example, if a client’s aim is being able to cook for their family, break that goal down into a few smaller goals. Assess their ability, then set realistic goals which lead up to them achieving their ultimate goal. This could be anything from starting off with making themselves soup or toast; you can start as small as is reasonable per your client’s abilities, then work up from there. Knowing you have multiple goals to aim for will encourage you to move up the steps to their ultimate goal.
seeing where you started compared to where you are allows you to visualise change easily
A LITTLE
Discouraged?
Don’t let yourself or your client be discouraged by failure. Don’t even call it failure; not reaching a goal isn’t a failure if you’ve put in work to get there. Take it on the chin and get right back into it if you can; try and find a new way to motivate yourself, and don’t count yourself out if it’s not going your way. Not everyone’s going to reach their goal, but it’s better to have tried to get there rather than to have given up when things got ever-so-slightly hard. You can do it! Just keep on trying.
TRACK
Everything
By breaking down one large goal into multiple smaller goals, you’re going to have a much easier time sticking to your overall resolution
Keeping a diary is a great way of visualising how far your client has come in their attempts to make a positive change in their lives, or seeing how far you’ve progressed towards a goal. It might not be a great motivator at first, but seeing where you started compared to where you are allows you to visualise change easily. If your client is focused on engaging with a healthy lifestyle, apps like MyFitnessPal allow you to easily track the way your body looks by taking photographs and allowing you to compare them. This will allow your client to easily see changes in their own body – which could be anything from weight loss, toning up, gaining muscle and so on – which encourages them to keep going with positive changes. Even if technology’s not your client’s bag, there’s nothing wrong with going down the old fashioned route and digging out the old pad and pen to keep track of everything they’re getting done. -magazine.co.uk
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SPOON-FEEDING SPOON THEORY What is spoon theory, and how can it help OTs with no lived experience of chronic illness understand their clients’ needs and limitations?
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hen you live with chronic illness, everything takes energy, and sometimes, your energy reaches its limits quicker than a traditionally healthy person. Trying to explain this premise to someone can get tiresome; how do you explain that you have the energy to read a book but not to cook dinner for yourself? It’s a difficult conversation, especially when speaking with someone who doesn’t have the lived experience that a person living with a chronic health condition does. In an essay posted to her website But You Don’t Look Sick, Christine Miserandino explains how she struggled to explain the limits of her energy reserves as someone who lives with the chronic autoimmune disease lupus. When in a café with her friend one day, they asked her to explain what living with chronic illness was like, approaching it as a friend who simply wanted to better understand Christine’s life. “How do I explain every detail of every day being affected, and give the emotions a sick person goes through with clarity,” Christine wrote. “I could have given up, cracked a joke like I usually do, and changed the subject, but I remember thinking if I don’t try to explain this, how could I ever expect her to understand. If I can’t explain this to my best friend, how could I explain my world to anyone else? I had to at least try.” Christine used spoons laid out on the table to explain to her friend that every day, she draws from a finite source of energy, using the spoons to represent that energy. She explained that every time she performed an
action, she had to take spoons away. Spoons had to be rationed or spared, and Miserandino explained that while you can go over your daily limit of spoons, this has a knock-on effect that will affect you in the future. This simple act of visual metaphor which was done to help Christine’s friend understand her chronic illness became the basis of spoon theory, as it’s a hugely simple but effective way of explaining the realities of energy conservation for chronically ill people. In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Naomi Chainey, who lives with chronic fatigue syndrome, explained how the theory can be applied to any chronic condition, be it cognitive or social. Those who identify with the theory refer to themselves as “spoonies” in reference to Miserandino’s writings. Spoon theory is a very effective way of explaining the energy rationing that comes with many chronic conditions, and is especially useful for people with invisible disabilities, who struggle with being perceived as lazy or having poor time management skills by people with no lived understanding of chronic illness. In the language of psychology, spoon theory is a combination of ego depletion, fatigue, and opportunity cost. For someone with no real understanding of what is perceived to be medical jargon, this can be difficult to understand. Engaging with a person who lives with chronic illness using this simple visual metaphor may greatly improve interactions with a client, and levels of understanding from the perspective of the occupational therapist. -magazine.co.uk
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Uncovering ME/CFS Exploring the lack of education and understanding around myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.
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ally Callow is the managing director of a CPD-accredited online training provider that specifically educates health professionals on myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) called Stripy Lightbulb CIC. Sally has had ME/CFS herself since 2006 and has been a global advocate for over five years. She recently attended The OT Show to meet OTs and let them know about the online training courses her company offers. The show was a great success and Sally reported having a great number of positive conversations with OTs to educate them on ME/CFS. Here she explains why the knowledgebase around ME/CFS must be improved in the healthcare professions and why OTs are perfectly placed to help patients living with ME/CFS;
SPECIAL OFFER Stripy Lightbulb CIC are offering readers of The OT Magazine a ÂŁ20 discount off any e-learning course, simply enter code 20off at the checkout when purchasing the course at stripylightbulb.com. 30
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ME/CFS affects over 250,000 people here in the UK (1 in 500), around 25,000 of those are children and young adults The OT Show last year was a great success for Stripy Lightbulb CIC. Our stand was certainly a hive of activity over the two-day event and it was great to meet so many occupational therapists. We had many powerful conversations with OTs who recognise that the knowledgebase around myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome needs improvement. Many of you spoke of having ME/CFS patients under your duty of care but acknowledged that you know very little about the condition. This is not surprising as worldwide only around 5% of medical students learn about ME/CFS in medical school, despite it not being a rare illness. ME/CFS affects over 250,000 people here in the UK (1 in 500), around 25,000 of those are children and young adults. ME/CFS does not discriminate in terms of age, race, or gender; though women are more prone at a ratio of 3:1. ME/CFS is an invisible disability and is very often shrouded in stigma and disbelief. It is a complex and poorly understood condition with a controversial and complicated history. Because of this, patients continue to wait for progress in terms of a diagnostic test, treatments, a cure, and increased understanding. The World Health Organisation categorised ME as a neurological condition four decades ago in 1969, however a significant majority of medical professionals still believe ME/CFS to be psychosomatic. One important political argument to consider is the controversial UK research study, the PACE trial, that recommends Graded Exercise Therapy
Foundation Trust states: “Patients I work with have described being ‘let down’ or having ‘given up’ with healthcare professionals. The focus has been on identifying the cause, often involving harrowing questioning searching for abuse history or prescribing fatigue treatment using graded exercise programmes that they feel ‘make me worse.’ Many patients cannot access specialist services as they do not meet requirements for the team or cannot physically get to programmes or appointments so do not bother.” Anything that can be done to limit the energy required to attend OT appointments would be welcomed by the patient community. An obvious way to save energy would be to offer home visits for moderate and severe patients, but we recognise the time and financial implications of doing this. For those more severely affected, attending appointments may well cause a flare that could last weeks, if not months. It is rare for occupational therapists to see how ME/CFS affects patients, as in the majority of cases, patients will have rested for days in preparation for expending energy during their OT appointment, you are likely only to see ME/CFS-affected patients on ‘better’ days. (GET) as an ‘effective treatment’ for ME/CFS. The resulting NICE guidelines are being reviewed at the end of 2020 due to substantial evidence submitted by scientists, researchers, ME/CFS charities and patients highlighting that GET has caused symptom severity to worsen in many participants of GET. In terms of how to deal with the PACE trial issue, we believe that the sooner healthcare professionals, including OTs, cease recommending the ‘treatments’ to ME/ CFS patients the better. Potentially, many more thousands of patients could be harmed before the NICE guidelines are reviewed and hopefully updated in 2020. To be clear, there are no effective treatments for ME/CFS worldwide and only 5% of patients fully recover naturally without intervention. At a basic level, ME/CFS-affected bodies are unable to create or manage energy effectively, patients have an inability to recharge. This makes post-exertion malaise PEM, (otherwise known as post-exertion neuro-exhaustion) the key characteristic of ME/CFS, it is unique to the illness and is related to our energy production issues. Scientists don’t yet understand why this is, but physical evidence of disease has been found in the brains, guts, and blood of patients. What is the first thing patients want from OTs? Patients want to be believed and for the seriousness of the condition to be acknowledged. Chantelle Martin, senior occupational therapist, Sussex Community
Patients are seen when they have rested, and not when they have ‘crashed’ due to PEM 24-72 hours later. Unless a home visit is undertaken during PEM you will not see the full extent of how ME/CFS affects patients. If an appointment coincides with PEM, the patient would be forced by very bad health to cancel the appointment. PEM cannot be overcome or ‘pushed through’ as the patient is entirely devoid of energy. Chantelle Martin highlights the part that OTs can play in the recognition of ME/CFS: “OTs are in a prime position to support, advocate and empathise with an individual’s lived experience. Our occupational science theory base and knowledge of assessing not just the person and their symptoms, but the environment and the occupations an individual needs and wants to do, should mean we are well equipped to help and support, but we need to apply these skills in our conversations and treatment plans.” At the current time, many OTs do not have the knowledgebase to enable them to apply their skillset to patients with ME/CFS. The patient community can only progress through the education of those who have a duty of care over them and with the long overdue recognition that ME/CFS is neurological not psychological. Our CPD accredited e-training is improving the lives of ME/CFS patients by educating those who have a duty of care. It’s time for change. Visit stripylightbulb.com for more information and check out Sally’s website mefoggydog.org that concentrates on raising awareness of ME/CFS. -magazine.co.uk
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FIZZLING OUT The life of a healthcare professional is stressful at the best of times, but sometimes it’s all a bit too much. What do you do when you realise you’re in a state of occupational burnout?
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hen you first start at your job, you’re all wide-eyed, fresh and bushy-tailed. There’s a sense of eagerness to everything you do, and the feeling that you’re contributing to both your workplace and your wider community by performing your job. Over time, if you’re surrounded by a good team and work in a positive and well-managed environment, that feeling may be maintained. Of course, there’ll be highs and lows, but overall, your experience will be positive. For some, that feeling of eagerness gives way to emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. The feelings spill over into your personal life, and you find yourself becoming easily irritated, hopeless, cynical and resentful. Getting out of bed in the morning to go to work is a struggle of astronomic proportions, and your performance in work simply boils down to you going through the motions of the day. That’s burnout.
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Occupational burnout can affect anyone, and is a specific condition related to struggles or stresses in the workplace. It was first described by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in 1974, who used the term burnout to describe feelings of exhaustion, headaches, sleeplessness, “quickness to anger,” and closed thinking that was a direct result of excessive demands in the workplace. Many psychologists have observed many different symptoms of occupational burnout, but at the core of each series of
observations is exhaustion, be it physical, mental, or emotional. It’s not a medical diagnosis, but it’s a cloister of symptoms which all stem from dissatisfaction at work, which can arise for a huge number of reasons.
Burnout creeps up slowly until one day, you realise that everything is overwhelming. It manifests both physically and mentally. Those suffering from burnout will, according to the Mayo Clinic, see any number of symptoms including: becoming cynical or critical at work; having to drag yourself in to get started; getting impatient with co-workers or clients; lacking energy to be constantly productive; struggling to concentrate; lacking satisfaction in achievements; feelings of disillusionment regarding your role; using food, drugs, or alcohol to
cope; changing sleeping habits; and unexplained headaches, stomach, or bowel problems. When you’ve previously loved your job, realising that you’re suffering from burnout can be a very hard pill to swallow. If this sounds like a problem for you, think of what could possibly be causing you to feel how you do. There are so many reasons that could factor in. You could be feeling a lack of control; that you lack the authority to make decisions that affect your job, and lack the resources but have no way to get them. You could be unsure of what your job expectations are, which is causing you stress and discomfort. There could be extreme dysfunction in your work environment: an office bully, bad management, or a lack of hierarchy can all contribute to extreme stress. Massive jumps between monotony and chaotic activity can also contribute, as can a lack of support in the office and at home, or a bad work-life balance. Work-life balance is important: you may be more at risk of burnout if you feel like you cannot escape your work. For a lot of people, clocking out at the end of the day doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to stop working, and that’s a very easy way to burnout. If the lines between your work time and rest time are in any way blurred, you might need to take a step back and re-assess those boundaries. Having a huge workload and needing to do loads of overtime is also not healthy. Working in the healthcare sector is also a huge risk due to its very nature: it’s extremely demanding, and your emotional energy is constantly being drained as you deal with people. Related to burnout, a condition which may disproportionately affect medical professionals is compassion fatigue, which sees your ability to be compassionate towards patients and clients lessen gradually over time. It’s sometimes called “the cost of caring”. All of these issues can add up to see you becoming burdened with exceptional amounts of stress. You may find your fuse getting shorter and shorter until it isn’t there at all, which is only made worse by the fatigue and inability to sleep you
may deal with. You may feel sad, irritable, or despondent, and try to alleviate all of this by misusing alcohol or substances. In the long run, it can increase your chances of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, as well as making you more vulnerable to illness overall.
in calming the mind, reducing rumination, and lowering anxiety. As well as that, it’s just nice to have some time to yourself that’s not about work. You don’t have to dedicate hours to yourself unless you need them, so sometimes all you need is five minutes to quiet your mind and alleviate your stress.
This all sounds quite scary, but it’s not a case of “you can never come back from the stress of your job and you are doomed to die here”. Quite the opposite: things may well improve when you take action. There’s nothing wrong with voicing problems to a trusted manager or supervisor regarding concerns you may have with your working environment, and you’ll likely find
Self-care is extremely important in combating burnout, especially as a means to promote introspective activity. With a calm mind, it’s easier to understand exactly why it is that you feel the way you do. That can give you the presence of mind needed to deal with the stress and your understanding of the expectations placed upon you in the workplace.
realising that you’re suffering from burnout can be a very hard pill to swallow you’re not the only one who wants to do so. Reaching compromises with your superiors is the first step in alleviating stress in your work environment, as they’re the ones functionally in control of your day and tasks. Make sure you have a good network of friends, family, and colleagues who can support you emotionally. This is a form of self-care, which is vitally important to managing stress. Speaking to them gives them an opportunity to give advice, but sometimes even just having someone to listen makes a world of difference. Your workplace may offer counselling services or an employee assistance programme, even a union, where you can go to seek help and advice on problems you have in the workplace. For those who live with pre-existing mental health conditions like anxiety, lessons in CBT can be incredibly helpful in coping with stress and encouraging you to leave your work inside the office, so to speak. Taking part in mindful and relaxing activities can greatly help reduce stress and burnout. Yoga, meditation, and tai chi are all very helpful
There are lots of actions you could take in addition: get out of the office, take a holiday – even if it’s just a weekend away, so long as it’s away from work, it’s giving you the time and space you need to relax. You may want to reassess your goals in the workplace, and your expectations of yourself, which could be contributing negatively to your feelings of stress. It’s a classic, but also, start saying “no” when you need to. Don’t be the person taking on too much for others, because that benefits no-one. If all else fails, you may need to start the process of looking for a new job – and that’s ok! You can’t stay in the same place forever. If it’s what you need to do, it’s the right thing to do. Don’t feel guilty or like you’re leaving people in the lurch; if it’s what you need for your mental health, it’s the best thing to do. Regardless of which solution you undertake to combat your burnout, remember that it’s not forever. There’s always a solution to the problem of stress, and if you can’t find it, it might be time to talk to someone. Two heads are better than one, after all.
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SAFETY
FIRST Winter weather can be dangerous for older people, but staying inside can be bad for mental health and increase loneliness. How can older people move around in ice and snow safely?
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inter is stunning to look at, with the world covered in a thick blanket of pure white snow, but it can also be extremely dangerous. When it’s icy outside it can be extremely dangerous to try and walk places, especially when the temperature is low and there’s black ice lying around on pavements. Councils will grit roads, and there’s always a chance it’ll land on pavements, but you don’t always have that guarantee. For older people, it can be especially dangerous and damaging to their mental health. Older people already disproportionately face issues regarding loneliness and isolation, and this is exacerbated in the winter months. Getting out is absolutely vital to staying social, keeping active, and preventing cabin fever from setting in, so it’s imperative that older people can move around as safely as possible over the winter months, in spite of the adverse weather conditions that we all face. As an OT, you may have elderly clients who are worried or concerned about how they can safely move around during adverse weather like snow and ice, and how they can stay safe. Falls can be incredibly dangerous for older people too, so taking precautions to avoid that is imperative. Relatives and older people themselves, depending on how able they are, can take a few steps to increase their safety in moving around.
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CLEARING PATHS Obviously, the best way to keep safe is to have clear, safe paths, which are free of snow or ice. If an older person has kind neighbours or family, they may offer to clear their paths for them, which is a lovely thing to do and can be very helpful. It’s important to note though that sometimes, this can make paths more dangerous. There’s a danger of them refreezing, either due to snowfall or freezing rain, which can cause the formation of clear or black ice that older people may struggle to see, and that can be dangerous for them. When you’re clearing paths, it’s absolutely essential that you do not clear them with water, under any circumstance. You may see
using hot water to clear the path as the most convenient way to do it – which it is – but it’s also the most dangerous. The water won’t evaporate in the cold weather, and can simply refreeze to form black ice. It’s imperative that snowy paths are cleared properly, by moving the snow out of the way with shovels or the like. You can clear the top layer of snow, then leave the bottom layer to melt in the sun, before salting the path during the night to prevent it from icing over, if your client is planning on going out the next day. Using salt or sand instead of water is ideal: salt works to lower the freezing point of water, so by simply pouring salt on ice or snow you can melt it with ease, and the brine that it creates won’t freeze over unless the temperature gets down to about minus ten degrees Celsius. You don’t need fancy or specialist salt to clear ice and snow; even ordinary table salt will help clear paths and make them safer for older people, but rock salt is a better choice for clearing paths, so it may be worth encouraging older clients to keep some on hand in case of a big freeze. If you haven’t got enough salt, you can use sand on paths instead. Sand won’t melt the snow or ice, but it will greatly improve grip underfoot, allowing elderly people to move a little easier. It’s worth noting here that you shouldn’t use the grit in grit bins for private property. These bins are actually for people who live in the area to put on roads which gritters may not be able to access, and using it for your own paths is considered anti-social behaviour.
WALKING WELL GEARING UP There are things that older people can buy to improve how safely they’re able to manoeuvre in snowy or icy conditions. Many of these things are inexpensive but the increase to safety they offer is invaluable. Crampons are a fantastic, inexpensive purchase that can drastically reduce anyone’s chances of falling while walking in snow or ice. They’re readily available online or in outdoor shops, like Decathlon or Mountain Warehouse. Crampons are studded grips which fit comfortably over the wearer’s own shoes to improve grip in icy conditions. They’re extremely easy to use, and very convenient. Traction devices are very similar, in
that they also fit over the wearer’s own shoe, but they don’t have metal spikes; they have tactically positioned bungee cords covered in metal coils, which are ideal for digging into the ice. It’s also possible to get snow and ice grips for walking sticks and crutches, which are ideal for older people who use mobility aids. Snow boots are a great investment for the winter months, as they keep the feet nice and warm, which is especially important if the older person in question lives with conditions like diabetes, which affect circulation to the feet. Snow boots are, again, readily available at outdoor shops, and can be bought for as little as £10, making them an inexpensive investment, too.
It seems silly to say, but it may be worth ensuring any older clients who are mobile know how to walk safely in snow or ice. Take lots of time to plan out a route, and give yourself additional time to get wherever you’re going. Always remember to move slowly, clean your boots off when you enter a building to prevent slipping, use handrails, and walk with your hands out of your pockets so that if you do begin to fall, you can use your arms to help either catch or support you. Stick to paths that have been cleared, and pay attention to where you’re going. If you can, take small steps or shuffle over icy surfaces. Again, if you can, try to keep your centre of gravity over your feet, and walk flat-footed so that you have as much traction as possible when you’re walking around in bad weather.
Take lots of time to plan out a route, and give yourself additional time to get wherever you’re going
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Product FOCUS Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your clients.
1
1
TOPRO PEGASUS ROLLATOR
This new rollator is made from carbon fibre making it lighter than ever at just 6.2kg. It has an elegant look, is designed for durability and ease of use and includes sophisticated additions like the Topro Ergo Grip handles, shock-absorbing wheels and partially integrated brake pulls. It also comes with a seven year warranty. 0115 846 5406 | topromobility.co.uk 2
DREAMLAND HEATED MICROFLEECE THROW
This beautifully soft blanket is just what the doctor ordered for the cold winter months. Especially good for anyone who struggles to regulate their temperature, are unable to keep active, older or disabled people and those looking to keep the heating bills down too. Available in a range of colours, it heats up in just five minutes. designed2enable.co.uk
2
3
GRAB RAIL TOWEL HOLDER
Grab rails no longer have to look clinical and cold. If your patient wants something that will complement their bathroom, aid their independence and act as a towel rail too, then look no further. This sleek stainless steel grab rail is functional and stylish, a perfect look for any bathroom. evacare.co.uk
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4
GEMINI 2000 BATH
Winner of the Excellence in Caring Award at The OT Show last year, this bath was recognised for its unique power-assisted, dual-lift function that provides accessible, safe and enjoyable bathing for both the user and the carer. The bath offers the highest hi-lo platform that integrates changing, drying and bathing. 01527 400 024 | abacushealthcare.co.uk 5
OBJECT LOCATOR
These wireless keyrings can be attached to objects that are easily lost or misplaced, like keys, wallets, handbags, walking sticks or even umbrellas. They come with a remote that has corresponding buttons for each keyring, when you need to find something just press that button and the keyring will start beeping, helping you locate your lost item.
4 5
0345 121 8111 | nrshealthcare.co.uk 6
TILT IN SPACE SHOWER CHAIR
This shower chair has been designed to provide comfort and safety together with easy access when washing. It is available in both adult and paediatric sizes with the option of either manual or electric tilting actions, which provide a tilting angle of between 75° and 35°. The chairs can come with or without an aperture and the frame is made of stainless steel preventing any rust or damage. 01482 820 333 | orchid-medicare.co.uk
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BEATING THE BLUES Blue Monday is the very definition of a fake news story, but feeling down in January is a very real phenomenon. How can you employ self-care to beat the January blues?
A
s well as being a very good New Order song, Blue Monday is an invention by a travel company that tries to convince you to spend your meagre January wage packet on a trip to the southern hemisphere to beat the winter blues. Blue Monday almost always falls on the third Monday in January, and it’s backed up by a terrifically pseudoscientific formula which screams “if we make this super complicated noone will look into how fake it is”. The winter blues are real, though, and your emotional energy absolutely does take a big hit during the darker months of the year. Blue Monday might be a load of nonsense, but prioritising self-care in January is a brilliant way of beating the winter blues.
GET SUPPORT Your support network is vital when your mental health takes a dip. Knowing who you can talk to, be with, and confide in is massively important, so be sure to evaluate your interpersonal connections and speak to people when you need to. Talking is a brilliant way of topping up emotional energy, especially if you have a trusted friend or family member who you know will listen and give good advice. Try to keep busy when you’ve got the energy by making plans with family and friends, which also serves as a great distraction.
DON’T OVERDO THE COMFORTS While the creation of milk chocolate was indeed where society peaked, we unfortunately cannot simply eat it every day for every single meal. As much as we’d like to, we’d have to have the metabolism of a hummingbird to eat that much chocolate. When we’re down, we like a little comfort food, and a little is just the right amount. Don’t go mad with the selection boxes in an attempt to comfort yourself, because it really doesn’t do very much. This is the most tragic of any truth we’ve ever put in the OT Mag.
GET DISTRACTED One of the tenants of cognitive behavioural therapy is to keep yourself distracted to prevent ruminating on negative thoughts. Keeping busy keeps you distracted, so if you like to read, want to re-watch every episode of Grey’s Anatomy, or you’ve decided that 2020 is the year you become a local cross-stitching champion, now is a terrific time to get started. Give yourself a goal or a project to pour some energy into if you can, no matter how big or small it is, and you’ll prevent yourself from overthinking things.
GET OUTSIDE Exercise positively impacts the presence of serotonin in the brain, which results in an improved mood, so if you’re feeling down, it might be worth trying to do a bit of exercise. You don’t have to go for a run or cycle up a mountain; just going for a little walk can give you the little bit of pep you require. Not only that, but managing to get outside while it’s still light promotes the synthesis of vitamin D in the body, which can help to improve mood. -magazine.co.uk
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A HAPPY MISTAKE This Japanese restaurant could teach us a lot about both the way we treat people with dementia, and their value within society.
J
apan is what’s known as a “super-ageing” society; their excellent life expectancy and sub-replacement birth rates mean that there are a lot of people over 65 in Japan. In fact, according to 2014 estimates, one third of the population are above the age of 60. There are so many elderly people in Japan that in 2015, it was reported that every year 400 primary and secondary schools are closed, in order to be converted to care centres for elderly people. As well as having an astonishing number of older people, Japan is a work-orientated society. Workers are recruited straight out of university in a drive that happens every April, and they’re expected to stay in that job for the entirety of their life; the
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Japanese call them サラリーマン and キャリアウーマン – salarymen and career women. They’re expected to show absolute loyalty to the corporations they work for; completing 12 hour days, then heading to the karaoke bar with their colleagues. Everything from the ages of 21 to 65 is set – you’ll be with this company, as far as everyone is concerned, for 44 years of your life, and you’ll give them everything. What then do you do afterwards? The culture of Japan emphasises the priority and importance of work. How do you exist in a society where your value is established by your ability to work – but you struggle to do so? The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders is a pun on the Japanese play “The Restaurant of Many Orders,” and is the brainchild of TV director Shiro
Oguni, who hopes the series of popup restaurants will change the way people with dementia are perceived within Japanese society. Kyodo News notes that he was inspired to start the project after being served a dumpling instead of a burger while at a nursing care centre. He was about to point out the error, but thought: “This is the world people with dementia live in. It’s no big deal. It’s ok to make mistakes.” Oguni noted that the words associated with dementia in Japan were “scary, worrisome and dangerous,” and while he notes that “dementia is an extremely grave issue,” he is looking to challenge the perception that people living with dementia are to be feared in some capacity.
The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders takes this and attacks it with levity: “You may think it’s crazy,” their website reads, “A restaurant that can’t even get your order right. All of our servers are people living with dementia. They may, or may not, get your order right. “However, rest assured that even if your order is mistaken, everything on our menu is delicious and one-ofa-kind. This, we guarantee. ‘It’s ok if my order was wrong. It tastes so good anyway.’ We hope this feeling of openness and understanding will spread across Japan, and through the world.” Each of the servers at the restaurant has dementia, and this may mean you don’t get what you asked for. Regardless, whatever you get will be delicious! In one video, they claim that while 37% of the orders has been wrong, 99% of the customers were happy to dine there, and from the
laughs and smiles, you can believe it. The restaurant has “popped-up” a number of times around Tokyo since its opening in 2017, and has been tremendously popular. Many of its events have completely sold out, and it’s attracted a huge amount of attention from around the world, with people eager to get involved and hold their own Restaurant of Mistaken Orders event. Videos of the restaurant have gone viral, and it’s easy to see in them just what’s so appealing about eating at The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders. Everyone is so kind to the servers, who laugh and smile, and are free to simply exist in a space where they may not get everything right, but there’s no pressure to do so. Servers struggle to take orders, but persevere, and the people visiting the restaurant are grateful and graceful as they allow them to do so. There’s no pressure, and no hostility. Part of the joy is in the chance of a mistake. The servers are allowed to shine outside their roles as waiters, too. One video shows Yasuko Mikawa entertaining diners with a performance of Ave Maria as her husband Kazuo plays the cello beside her. She stops mid song, confused and unsure, and Kazuo touches her back and encourages her to continue. She does. “It has restored her confidence,” Kazuo told Kyodo News. The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders represents part of the cultural shift in a society which respects its elderly people, while simultaneously finding personal value in working. Customers are polite and patient, while servers are given the opportunity to find personal meaning in their ability to work for the pop-up restaurant. More than that; it contributes to changing the perception of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in a population which has found itself greatly affected by these two conditions. It’s a testament to both the desire to make the Japanese people less afraid of dementia, and the ability to provide people with the means to define their own worth. To learn more about The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, visit mistakenorders.com/en/ Images: Yuki Morishima (D-CORD)
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IN THE TOILET Charity Euan’s Guide want to make sure that all businesses are treating accessible toilets with the respect that they deserve.
DID YOU
KNOW? Last year
of people who encountered emergency cords felt that they were potentially dangerous
I
n November, accessibility charity Euan’s Guide took World Toilet Day to ask businesses to ensure that the red emergency cord in their accessible toilet is in working order. The charity discovered last year that 57% of people who encountered the cords felt that they were potentially dangerous, which is frequently caused by the cords being cut too short, or tied up out of reach. To ensure everyone knows how these emergency cords should function, the charity has distributed over 50,000 of their red cord cards, which read: “This red emergency cord must hang freely all the way to the floor. If it does not, it may prevent a disabled person from asking for help.” As well as ensuring the cords are installed correctly, Euan’s Guide called on businesses to ensure that their red cords are regularly tested to make sure that they’re working correctly. Having these red cords function as they’re supposed to will mean that people using the accessible toilet who find themselves in trouble will be able to get help when they require it. Alongside this, they want staff to have the know-how which sees them act appropriately when these cords are pulled. Euan MacDonald, co-founder of Euan’s Guide said: “We are determined to make the world more accessible, but we cannot act alone. We need businesses to get involved and improve their access to create a safer environment for disabled people. People often assume that everyone in the UK has access to
the charity has distributed over 50,000 of their red cord cards
a safe toilet when they are out and about, but sadly this is not the case. We regularly hear from people who have been left lying on the toilet floor for a substantial length of time after being unable to get the required assistance.” Last year saw Euan’s Guide run their successful #NotACupboard campaign, in which they listed the 30 strangest things people have found inside accessible toilets, which included confidential documents, Christmas decorations, a Venetian mirror, and a Neil Diamond tribute act. The campaign, which was also for World Toilet Day, aimed to highlight the need for accessible toilets to be used as they were designed, and not as a storage place for people to dump things they have no use for.
If you run a business which houses an accessible toilet, what better time is there than now to check that it can be used as it’s supposed to for people who need it, and that they can get the help that they require should something go wrong? If you’re not sure where to start, or you want to get involved in the red cord campaign, visit the Euan’s Guide website euansguide.com for more information.
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The Age to be Active Exercise is often described as the key to health and happiness, it can help prevent, heart disease, cancer, depression and improve physical mobility issues too.
A
s we get older many people start to slow down, they stop taking regular exercise, participating in sport and even socialising as much. This can often be due to ailments and what is seen as the natural progression of ageing, but in fact keeping active as we get older is of vital importance for both physical and mental wellbeing.
Research has shown that people who exercise regularly gain significant health benefits and even moderate exercise can have a big impact on a person’s health. OTs working with older people who perhaps have disabilities, mobility issues or who are frail can come up against a number of challenges in finding a way to get them active. If your patient has been injured from a fall or from trying to do too much, it can make them very cautious of doing too much in case they injure themselves again.
Some can be wary of trying new things and many may believe the myth that getting older means you stop being as active. There are obvious sports and activities that you wouldn’t ask your patient to do, it doesn’t need to be marathon-style training you embark on but you can help them to think about activity differently. Our bodies were made to move and if they remain inactive for long periods it can lead to muscle loss, stiffness, loss of strength and flexibility, and it can have a detrimental effect on mental wellbeing too. Exercise releases endorphins, giving you a natural high that can improve mood and lift feelings of anxiety and stress. There are more and more creative products, projects, groups and activities cropping up across the country designed to help the older generations keep fit and socialise. Here a few of the innovative solutions we have come across that could help your patients keep active…
FOOTBALL Over-50s football is an increasingly popular way for both men and women to stay fit and healthy. A game that can be enjoyed by all, there is also walking football groups for those who can’t take part in the more fast-paced setting. The health benefits of football for older people are well documented, showing that those who play have more muscle, harder bones, better cardiovascular systems and lower blood pressure and heart rate. The feelings of being part of a team, the rewarding nature of the game and the thought process that happens when on the field are all factors that make football a great sport to keep older people fit, keep the mind active and keep spirits high. You can find local groups at the following sites: walkingfootballunited.co.uk ukfootballfinder.co.uk playerwanted.co.uk
WALKING This may seem like the most obvious thing we could write, but walking is, for many, the easiest way to keep active and increase exercise levels. Getting your patient to build in regular stints of walking to their daily routine can make a big difference. If they travel by bus to the shops or to visit family then encourage them to get off a stop earlier so they can integrate some extra exercise into
their routine. Or encourage them to approach a friend to set up a regular walk in the park, a great way to up exercise and socialise at the same time. These can be for gentle or brisk walks, depending on your patient’s ability but they will gain a lot from it, from a social aspect and for health benefits.
MEMORIDE We discovered this great product at The OT Show where it was recognised as Best Therapeutic Product. Memoride is an incredibly innovative product that offers users the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane. It combines a unique combination of physical activity, reminiscence and social interaction. Using an exercise bike and a screen Memoride utilises Google Streetview images to open up the outside world to individuals from the safety and comfort of their home or care facility. It provides a unique and personalised user experience regardless of physical or cognitive restrictions. An excellent way to encourage exercise, communication and enjoyment. You can find out more about Memoride at memoride.eu/nl.
DANCING Whether it be ballroom, salsa or modern tap; dancing is a fun, social and enjoyable way to keep your mind sharp and your toes tapping. A great form of exercise, dancing can have a very positive effect on a person’s mental wellbeing and physical health. It provides mental stimulation and engagement and allows participants to express themselves freely through a creative medium. Learning the steps, meeting new people and feeling the sense of achievement that comes with learning a new skill all contribute towards the health benefits of dance and it can help tackle feelings of isolation and boredom. People Dancing is a foundation for community dance and they have a list of organisations that offer lessons for older people across the country, visit communitydance.org.uk.
AQUA AEROBICS Water-based exercises are great for older people who have arthritis or joint pain. The buoyancy of the water helps reduce the pressure on the joints during exercise and it can help reduce joint pain. The natural resistance that water provides helps with strengthening exercises without the need for using heavy weights and the low impact nature of something like aqua aerobics is great for anyone with hip and knee problems. Joining classes like these opens up a fun world of interaction and it can be more interesting than simply swimming from one end of a pool to the other to get your daily exercise in. Check out better.org.uk to find a water work out near you.
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PROTECTING THE HERD
A
s the old adage goes, “coughs and sneezes spread diseases”. Failing to keep up with your immunisations, failure to maintain proper hygiene procedures, and interacting with non-porous surfaces also spreads diseases, but unfortunately, that’s not catchy enough to put into a rhyme – go figure.
s
“coughs spread and s dise nee ase ze
Keeping up-to-date with your inoculations protects both you and your patients, who may be immunocompromised or sensitive to dangerous illnesses.
s”
As someone who works day in, day out with a huge assortment of people, it’s vitally important that you keep up with your immunisations, especially if you work in a place with immunocompromised patients. The beauty of herd immunity is that it protects the people who cannot be immunised by ensuring that those who can aren’t able to pass off infectious diseases to them. Some vaccines are situationally dependent – if you’re someone who works with prisoners, you may be recommended to have the hepatitis B virus, where a paediatric OT probably will not be at significant risk of catching that.
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VACCINE CHECKLIST Here are all of the vaccines you’ll likely need to maintain good herd immunity and optimal health.
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Some will be at higher risk than others of being infected with hepatitis A or B, so it’s worth seeing what your workplace recommends you get. You’ll likely have had to get these vaccinations as a student; a combined vaccine is available for hepatitis A and B, but your GP may recommend that you get monodoses dependant on your last vaccine or booster.
Typhoid fever is a disease most commonly associated with tropical holidays, but it’s important to maintain your three-year boosters. A fair warning with this vaccine: there are two types of typhoid vaccine, the Vi vaccine, which is administered via a single injection, and the Ty21a vaccine, which is administered via capsules on alternate days. The Ty21a vaccine contains a live sample of the salmonella typhi bacteria, and as a result, it’s incredibly dangerous for people with a weakened immune system, for example, people who are receiving chemotherapy.
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella If you were born after 1988 when this entered the regular vaccine schedule for newborn babies, you likely won’t need to get the MMR vaccination. If you’ve already had this, you don’t need to get it again. Given that this is one of the necessary vaccinations you’ll need to go on placement, once you’ve checked that you’ve got this one, it’s not one to worry about again.
Varicella Known to the layman as “the chickenpox vaccine,” this one is a necessity for people who work with patients who have a weakened immune system, like those living with HIV or going through chemotherapy. Chickenpox can also pose a very significant risk to unborn babies, so if you work with pregnant people, it’s extremely important to get the vaccine. In adults, chickenpox actually carries the additional risk of triggering shingles, so it’s vitally important to ensure you have the necessary antibodies to fight the virus. If you had chickenpox as a child, there’s little chance you’ll have to receive the varicella vaccination. 48
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BCG Scar Checks This one is a little more nebulous: it’s not so much a vaccination as an assertion that you at one point had a vaccination. If you lift up your shirt sleeve, on your upper arm, you may see a small, circular, crater-like scar. If you were at school between 1953 and 2005, you’ll have been immunised between the ages of 10 and 14. Younger people may not have been given the BCG after the initiative was scrapped due to a lack of cost effectiveness. The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine (yes that is what BCG stands for!) protects against tuberculosis, which is highly infectious. If you don’t have the scar or your scar is not easily identifiable, your GP can administer a Mantoux test, which checks for immunity.
Diphtheria, Polio, and Tetanus This is a booster shot usually given to 14-year olds as part of the national immunisation programme, but a lot of people are encouraged to get a booster every 15 years, depending on profession and country. The DPT given in the UK is different to the one that’s administered in the US and a few other countries as the “P” in their version of the vaccine is pertussis, or whooping cough, which is a separate vaccine on the schedule in the UK. In the UK, this vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and polio.
Influenza Getting the flu is rubbish. It keeps you off work, it takes forever to clear up properly, and everything hurts in ways you weren’t aware it could really hurt. If you’re working with people who have compromised immune systems, it’s more than just a mild inconvenience; complications like pneumonia can develop, which are potentially life threatening. As such, you should consider getting your flu vaccine every year. The reason for this is that the antibodies present within your body decrease over time, and the flu is an ever-changing virus, so vaccines can differ year-on-year depending on prevalent strains.
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sales@QuadraBuild.com | 02086 445 434 | www.QuadraBuild.com CASE STUDY | QuadraBuild Easiaccess Ramp | Private household, funded by Disabled Facilities Grant After receiving an enquiry from the local authority responsible, we carried out a detailed survey of the property to check dimensions, levels, obstructions and anything else that could affect the proposed design.
This information was then used by our in-house team to design the ramp to meet the requirements of the user. A proposed design was sent to the authority for approval by the
The ramp components were then assembled on site within a single day and the ramp was immediately ready for use.
BEFORE
DESIGN
AFTER
OT and any amendments were incorporated.
DRIVE
AN OT CAN: Speak with an older person’s GP to establish the kind of adaptations needed to overcome any issues they’re experiencing with their vehicle, Offer advice on how to drive safely – for example, by using familiar routes, or only driving in the daytime,
A
s people get older, they may find it more difficult to perform activities of daily living like driving, but be resistant to give up the freedom it provides them. How can occupational therapy help older people maintain their safety and independence behind the wheel? Having a conversation with an older friend or relative where you express your concerns regarding their ability to drive can be an exceedingly awful confrontation: no-one wants to be told they’re “too old” to do something, incapable of performing activities of daily living that they’ve been doing for years, or told by a loved one that they might be a danger to others. To be told that you might not be capable of driving any more is also essentially to be told that your primary source of independent travel is going to be taken away from you. For those who are concerned about an older person’s safety behind the wheel, the intervention of an occupational therapist can mean that freedom is maintained, while prioritising the safety of both the driver and the people around them. How then can the expertise of an occupational therapist help keep older people safe on the road for as long as possible?
Work with professionals who can provide adaptations to vehicles to ensure they meet the occupational needs of the driver, Provide alternatives and simplify the process of driving through addressing the occupation of driving, Provide or supervise in the undertaking of a driving evaluation with the client, Walk the client through using public transport, working on building their confidence in using an alternative form of transport, if it is convenient and accessible for the client, Help families preserve the independence of an older driver by taking part in a discussion on safer driving, Make referrals directly to the DVLA if you have a concern regarding the driver’s medical fitness, Provide additional options which will allow the client to travel around the community, if driving is no longer a viable option.
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THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SHOW2019
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,077 Occupational Therapy professionals walked through the doors of Birmingham’s NEC for a spectacular industrywide gathering of free education, networking and product sourcing on 27 - 28 November. Last year the two-day event brought together case managers, specialist occupational therapists, commissioners, consultants, MOHO trainers, students, service managers, and many more, as well as therapy professionals attending Therapy Expo - the show’s co-located event. The exhibition and conference made up a momentous two days, featuring trade’s biggest names such as AKW, Arjo, Vela, Freedom, Invacare, and Ravencourt Living, to name just a few. The floor was filled with innovative products, services and exhibitor-led hands-on sessions, with theatres and aisles filled to the brim with occupational therapy professionals. The educational line-up, made up of 80+ hours of CPD, was star-studded with thought leaders including Jennifer Creek, who delivered thought-provoking discussions on the importance of future-proofing occupational 52
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therapy and occupational therapy as social practice. Other significant speaker highlights came from Sue Parkinson, speaking about the latest assessments based on MOHO and their impact on clients, and Penny Adams on new and exciting roles within enablement and how to maximise client’s potential. Day one of the show closed with an Exhibitor and Delegate Awards Ceremony, which saw outstanding occupational therapists and exhibitors awarded for their noteworthy contributions to the OT Community. One award-winning exhibitor was pioneer of Innovation Activ84Health with their Memoride software, which allows service users to ‘cycle’ along routes they have visited throughout their lives, using memories to improve their quality of life. Other award-winning products included Safer Walking GPS Locater and Safer Walking APP- winner of the Best Personal Independent Product or Service award, and the Gemini 2000 Bath - awarded for Excellence in Caring. The Occupational Therapist Award winners and highlycommended nominees were as follows:
OUTSTANDING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AWARD Winner: Tina Tierney, Occupational Therapist, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust Highly Commended: Jane Moseley, Occupational Therapist and High Intensity User Lead, East Sussex County Council
LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION AWARD Winner: Beth White, Occupational Therapist, Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Highly Commended: Helen McNamara, Occupational Therapist, Royal Surrey Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
OUTSTANDING OTTI/OTA/ SERVICE USER CONTRIBUTION AWARD Winner: Robert White, Service User and Volunteer, Kent & Medway Partnership Trust
Reception of the show was overwhelmingly positive from delegates as well as exhibitors. Event director Shelley Williams called the show a “resounding success… two busy days filled with worldrenowned speakers, an exceptional exhibition and opportunities for industry networking.” CEO of Activ84Health Roel Smolders said the event was “truly great” for him: “The UK is a new market for us…we have experience in different countries across Europe, but coming to a new market is always interesting- to see how people react, and it’s been truly amazing.” Amanda Farrell, Product Advisor at Safespaces called the quality of conversations “very high”, and commented that Safespaces has “always done The OT Show…the audience is our most relevant, key audience. It lets us speak to occupational therapy professionals and healthcare professionals that specify our product, that understand our product, that want to know more about our product, or that use our product.”
Highly Commended: Matthew Randall, Sports Coordinator, Kent and Medway NHS Trust
Here is what some of the 2019 delegates had to say: “The sessions are great…there’s lots of ideas…we’ve picked up beads of wisdom, and consolidated what we already know.” Occupational therapy assistant
“It’s really relaxed and you feel like you can browse, look at everything, take a brochure to take back and build a case for.” Occupational Therapist/ Case Manager
This year’s Occupational Therapy Show will return on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2020. Make sure you save the date for another year of in-depth and clinical exploration into housing practice, mental health, moving and handling and many more areas. For more info, visit theotshow.com.
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All the latest from the world of paediatrics
Paediatrics
SECTION e’re two decades into the millennium already, how time flies! So much has changed over the last 20 years, including the advent of personal and mobile technology. In the year 2000, the bestselling phone was the Nokia 3410 – remember that? A phone so tough and indestructible that it became one of Finland’s national emojis to represent their resilience. While back in the millennium, you’d be ecstatic to have a game of Snake work on your phone, that’s no longer the case.
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Kirstie Hughes contributed a wonderful article in this issue on the value of the mobile game Pokémon Go, and how it can improve health and wellbeing. Pokémon will be all-too familiar to the millennials who read our magazine, but the benefits
of this game extend to anyone who enjoys a fun and engaging alternate reality adventure. You can read this on page 57. We also explore the power of sleep on page 61, which new-to-market product the Fidgetbum is providing in abundance. Created by Mel Wood to help her young children transition from a cot to a bed, the sleep aid is terrific for people who have additional needs and sensory impairments. As ever, our paediatric products section has all the latest products and tools you might need for your younger clients. If there’s anything you would like to have featured in this section, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at ros@2apublishing.co.uk.
Read on to find out more...
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GOTTA CATCH ‘EM ALL OT Kirstie Hughes delves into the world of Pokémon Go to assess the health and wellbeing benefits that can be offered by this engaging game
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espite many people’s proclamation that Pokémon Go is “just a kid’s game” it remains one of the most popular mobile games in history. It boasts three world records in its first month of release in 2016, including most international charts topped simultaneously. Three years later it is still as popular and has staked its claim on the augmented reality gaming world, challenging the myth that mobile games are bad for our health and wellbeing. For those not in the know, Pocket Monsters, or Pokémon, are colourful creatures from fictional lands. The animated television show originated in Japan and made its first mainstream broadcast in America in 1998. Since that time there have been further TV shows,
movie adaptions and numerous console games. Pokémon saw a rebirth in 2016 with the launch of Pokémon Go which took advantage of the rise in mobile technology and applications. How many times, as children or parents, have we heard or exclaimed “turn the TV off and go outside”. Well Pokémon Go makers Niantic took that to heart and designed a game that sends its users out into the world to “catch ‘em all’. Players, also known as ‘trainers’, head outside to visit their local parks and communities
where they can find and catch Pokémon to complete their collection, also known as a Pokédex. In addition to solo play, groups of trainers must come together to battle in “raids” for a chance to nab an exclusive or powerful Pokémon. This sees large numbers come together at points of interest where they must work together to succeed.
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“Look at them attached to their phones like zombies”, a sentence frequently touted by passers-by as groups of trainers speed past on the hunt for a shiny Pikachu. But have we just swapped a television screen and all its woes for a handheld screen, or does Pokémon Go offer its trainers something more?
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH BENEFITS Pokémon Go encourages the safe exploration of a trainer’s local community as well as places further afield. It offers in-game rewards for walking, with players being awarded rare items for walking 10km a week, although many often exceed this, especially during summer months. The benefits of activity and fresh air are well documented to include improvement in cardiovascular fitness and endurance as well as lowering the risk of heart disease and improving mood. Gamification is a term being increasingly used and it can be applied in this situation. For many the idea of exercise doesn’t appeal, however the game has provided some users with the motivation to get outside and move, in a meaningful and enjoyable way. Time limited and seasonal events attempt to keep the game fresh and the introduction of challenges and research tasks adds an element of competitiveness to the game which further drives motivation. Studies conducted in America showed that the game increased trainers activity levels and prevented sedentary behaviour such as watching television.
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SOCIAL INTERACTION Research undertaken by the University of British Columbia claims that those with a high level of interpersonal skills do better in the game than introverts. However, Pokémon Go has the ability to help people develop these skills and their confidence. A study published in the Journal of Psychiatry Research supports this, claiming that it offers people the opportunity to practice their skills in a safe environment. On its most basic level the game requires you to step outside
your house. This can come with unexpected interaction, from the community warden who wants to know why so many people are communing under a clock tower, to discussing loitering with an older couple curious why grown adults are playing what presents as a children’s game. These unplanned interactions often don’t allow time to overthink or plan an “exit strategy” resulting in the person having to think on their feet and engage in the best way they can. Trainers spend hours of their time walking around their local area, over time they also become familiar with other local trainers. Networks
evolve on social media platforms as a way to organise events offering yet another chance to interact, this time in a digital space. Over time relationships are forged and, in some cases, extend passed the topic of Pokémon to other areas of interest allowing for friendships to develop and communities to form. Pokémon Go could be seen as a catalyst for creating opportunities for those who may not otherwise find them outside virtual worlds.
SENSE OF BELONGING AND COMMUNITY If you have ever been to an OT conference you will know how comforting it is to be in a room of like-minded people. A place where you don’t have to explain your passion and can chat and share freely. Being around a group of people who share in your meaningful occupation provides a sense of belonging, validation and camaraderie, and this is no
different in the Pokémon world. The community is vast, ranging from children to older adults, it transcends generations and allows players to take on different roles, share their knowledge and support one another. A more experienced trainer can help a newer player with advice or join them in a raid to help them catch a Pokémon they couldn’t get alone. Parents who supervise their children while playing have been drawn in and found a new way to connect with their children and are learning how to play from them. It’s through participation and contribution that we establish our place within a community, this in turn can provide extrinsic motivation to engage and reap the benefits of continued participation. So, does Pokémon Go have a role within occupational therapy practice? As with any occupation, if it’s meaningful to those who we support, then it’s our bag! You can contact Kirstie on Twitter @Kirstie_OT
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Under Covers
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Fidgetbum is a simple and effective sleeping aid that is proving life-changing for children and adults with additional needs and sensory impairments.
Founder of Fidgetbum Mel Wood initially created this product for one of her young children when they transitioned from a cot to a bed and out of the comfort of their growbag. Mel found her daughter was waking several times throughout the night because she was kicking off the covers and waking up as she was cold. Determined to find a solution, Mel searched the marketplace and when she could not find something that fit her remit, she took it upon herself to create a sleeping aid that ticked all of the boxes. Fidgetbum was created. A natural, effective sleep aid. It’s a stretchy wrap-around device that snugly holds the covers in place, without restricting the individual in bed, it also provides the user with a sense of security that sleep experts have likened to a warm hug. The stretchy, soft fabric feeds under the mattress and is fastened over the bed covers with a chunky, easy-touse zip. When not in use it can be discreetly tucked away under the covers. Proving ideal for little ones struggling to keep their covers on through the night, it was soon identified that Fidgetbum was also proving helpful for other users. Mel started to receive incredible feedback from parents of older children and adults with additional needs and conditions including autism and Alzheimer’s. The gentle pressure offered by Fidgetbum has been hailed by occupational therapists as a fantastic alternative to weighted blankets providing the proprioceptive input that many users seek. It is now being
used as an effective sleeping aid for those with sensory processing disorders and it offers security and comfort without being restrictive. Enabling users and families and carers across the country to experience a better night’s sleep. If you have a patient that struggles to sleep at night, this could be a viable option to consider. Customer and professional feedback on sleep quality has been so positive that the brand has also created larger sizes and longer lengths, to cater specifically for older non-sleepers. Bespoke sizes are also available for hospital beds and other mattress sizes. You can find out more at fidgetbum.com.
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A LIFECHANGING EXPERIENCE Oliver Lippett is five years old and was diagnosed with autism when he was two and a half. Oliver has always had sleep issues and hadn’t slept through the night since birth. His parents had taken advice from sleep nurses, paediatricians and GPs and Oliver was prescribed melatonin and phenegan. His parents reported that although the melatonin helped at first, it soon stopped being effective, even on the maximum dose. Oliver was then prescribed ciradin, which they thought was making a big difference, but that was stopped due to government cuts. Phenergan was also prescribed but they didn’t like the effect that it had on Oliver the following day, as he was drowsy, so they used it rarely. Oliver’s sleep pattern usually kept him awake between midnight and 6am, and living in his family home with his parents and his 13-yearold brother, sleep deprivation was affecting everyone. Oliver’s father had to leave his job on a building site as he was too tired to safely work at heights and his mother advised that both of their mental health had suffered as a result of lack of sleep. Oliver attends a school for special educational needs, but his sleep issues meant that he was often late as he found it so difficult to get up in the mornings. Oliver’s mum, then discovered Fidgetbum on social media and decided to trial it with Oliver, as she felt she had nothing to lose, as no other sleep aids had previously worked. She initially had reservations about whether it would work and whether Oliver would be happy to trial it. However, the first night they trialled the Fidgetbum, Oliver slept through the entire night, and he did the same the next night. A revelation for Oliver and his family. Oliver no longer takes any medication for sleep. Fidgetbum allows him to settle quickly and sleep through the whole night comfortably. He wakes in the morning after a restful sleep and
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attends school on time where his performance has also improved. He even goes and gets under his Fidgetbum during the day or after school to self-regulate and help him with sensory overload. Oliver’s mum commented: “The difference that Fidgetbum has made to us is literally life-changing. We still have the odd bad night, that’s just Ollie, but compared to before using the Fidgetbum, our lives are 100% better. I believe that having more sleep has helped us all as a family in so many ways. My husband has been able to get a new job and we are both finally getting sleep! The occupational therapist at Ollie’s school now recommends it to other parents dealing with similar sleep issues.”
I believe that having more sleep has helped us all as a family in so many ways
Kidz to Adultz Middle 2020 Free event organised by Disabled Living
Rebound Therapy Training Course Rebound Therapy has a huge number of benefits for children and adults across virtually the whole spectrum of disabilities. The Rebound Therapy team of approved tutors provide accredited training courses throughout the UK for: Occupational Therapists, care staff, schoolteachers and TAs, sports club and centre staff, and more. The course includes training in planning, measuring and recorded progress using the internationally recognised Winstrada programme and the Huddersfield Functional Index
NEW DATE! WEDNESDAY 4th March 2020, 9.30am - 4.30pm Ericsson Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, CV6 6AQ Visit: www.kidzexhibitions.co.uk
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Product FOCUS Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your younger clients.
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Kids
SENSORY IN A SUITCASE
Designed with occupational therapists and others in mind who need to take the sensory experience to the individual. From the visual display of the Opti-Aura Projector and coloured fibre optics; the interaction with tactile balls, resources, paper packs and calming music, the suitcase is now packed with even more sensory stimuli. 01302 645 685 | sensoryplus.co.uk 2
SKOOG 2.0
This musical cube works with your iPad, allowing you to tap, twist, or squeeze it to make music. Its sensitivity is adjustable, which means the Skoog can be played with any part of the body – including the hands, knees, or head. It’s so small and lightweight that it can easily be transported around. 01457 819790 | inclusive.co.uk
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TALKINGBRIX2
Each of these bricks can relay a single message up to ten seconds in length, which can be used to create a multiple message communication device. The three colourful bricks are easily activated with a light application of force, and a picture can be attached for easy identification. 01733 370470 | liberator.co.uk
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MIRROR PEBBLES
Smooth and reflective, these beautiful mirrored pebbles can be stacked and laid in paths to provide a soothing and sensory experience for children. Their multiple sizes encourage motor skill development, and the pebbles can be stacked, sorted, and sequenced, allowing them to be used in many different ways.
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01274 581007 | spacekraft.co.uk 5
TRANSPARENT HANDWRITING SPACERS
A handy visual aid for children who struggle with the fine motor skills related to writing, this pack of 20 handwriting spacers helps children produce more legible handwriting. The useful little card also has a tracking window, an arrow to improve directionality, transparency, and a ruled edge. 0800 138 1370 | tts-group.co.uk 6
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TETHERED BOING
A fun hanging toy for kids of all ages, this visually stimulating toy provides fun tactile simulation, and is extremely resilient thanks to its rubbery material. The Boing can be hung from a surface, allowing you to hit, swing and bop it, which causes the coloured light inside to change colour. 01299 827820 | specialneedstoys.com
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“I have always found Smirthwaite to be caring. They care about the needs of my clients, they listen to what I need and they care about providing the child with the very best solution” Claire, Occupational Therapist South West
At Smirthwaite, we help enhance the lives of children with additional needs with a range of lovingly created specialist equipment. To find out more visit smirthwaite.co.uk or call us on 01626 835552
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05/12/2019 16:49
Paravan PR 25 A multi-functional new powerchair that offers children a new way to interact and play.
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he unique features of the new Paravan PR 25 powerchair allow users to comfortably lower the seat fully to the ground. This ensures users can reach items on the floor or allows children to play with others at the same height. It can also offer some users a solution to independently access their chair. For a child, the ability to be seated safely and comfortably on the floor to interact with their playmates can open up a whole new world of communication and interaction to them. Kids love to mess about with toys on the floor and this powerchair allows just that, bringing a young user down to the eye level of their peers and helping to encourage play and making them feel included in any activity. The PR 25 is equipped with many features that make it stand out, it includes an individually adaptable seat system that grows with the child to ensure it can be used for many years, it also features an easy-to-use joystick control that can be programmed with individual functions.
and manoeuvrable in the home, outdoors, in shops and restaurants and in the school environment too. It has a maximum user weight of 60kg, a standard speed of 4mph, puncture proof nonmarking black tyres, 12-way adjustable and rotating armrest mounts, a swing away control panel holder, seat and backrest width extension and individual paintwork options. If you are looking for more information on this multi-functional, flexible powerchair contact the team at Precision Rehab on 01256 300111, email info@precisionrehab.co.uk or visit precisionrehab.co.uk.
HIGHLIGHTS Seat-to-floor function Optional lift function Compact size makes it highly manoeuvrable Seat system grows with the child Easy to use joystick control and panel
Flexibility is the name of the game with the PR 25, as it offers an electric tilting function to the front of 20 degrees and 45 degrees to the rear. There is also an option to add an electric lift function to take you to eye level too. In addition to this the PR 25 can also be moved forward when in the lift or floor position. Another unique feature of the Paravan PR 25 is that the seat can be moved completely forward horizontally away from the base while remaining at the same height, making it easier to move around and access different environments and spaces. With a base width of just 64cm, the Paravan PR 25 is compact -magazine.co.uk
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NEUROKINEX Neurokinex Kids is an award-winning paediatric spinal cord injury rehabilitation facility near Gatwick that is bringing breakthrough therapies to children living with cerebral palsy. rehabilitation (ABR) techniques that involve the whole body in activity,” she says. At Neurokinex Kids, children leave their wheelchairs and take part in assisted standing, stepping, climbing and playing. Not only does this optimise the strength and endurance of the muscles that are functioning, it also stimulates the muscles affected by the condition. Neurokinex tailors its therapies to each child to suit their ability and age and is treating upwards of 30 children aged two to 14 years old. The therapies are presented as play with the Neurokinex Kids gym providing the perfect backdrop to put the ‘fun’ back into functional movement.
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eurokinex Kids’ therapies for cerebral palsy focus primarily on relieving spasticity and improving strength and range of motion. Emphasis is put on developing motor control and functional skills, including gait, balance, and transfers in and out of a wheelchair. Fine motor skills and bilateral hand coordination are also worked on with the overall aim to increase children’s independence in everyday activities. Neurokinex delivers specialist neurological rehabilitation and therapies tailored to each child’s needs and typically look to address: 1 Increase range of motion in the lower body (hips, legs, ankles, and feet) and upper body (shoulder, elbow, wrists and hands), 2 Increase strength and motor control, 68
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3 Improve balance and coordination, 4 Develop and improve walking and transitional movements, 5 Develop and improve gross and fine motor skills, 6 Incorporate new patterns of moving into functional skills, 7 Develop smooth coordinated movement. “In most CP cases, the neural pathways develop intact prior to birth so have the capacity to function,” says Jenny Suggitt, occupational therapist and centre manager at Neurokinex Gatwick. “Our programmes set out to excite the nervous system and awaken dormant pathways while also treating the life-impacting symptoms presented by the disability. We work differently to traditional rehab or physiotherapy by using activity-based
“Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition and, although there is limited research specific to children with CP, we are seeing success through applying research completed on adults with neurological conditions,” explains Jenny. “Overall, we try to generate reflex activity in order to allow them to gain experience of the movements,” she says. “By physically assisting them into positions that allow their body to experience these sensations, we hope they can gain voluntary control over those movements.”
TWO KEY PROTOCOLS Neurokinex is an affiliated partner of the NeuroRecovery Network, established by the late Superman actor Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana. The only affiliate outside the US, Neurokinex is able to use its two unique protocols to achieve success. Locomotor Training (LT) This comprises a sophisticated treadmill programme that aims to reawaken dormant nerve pathways by repetitively stimulating nerves
KIDS
and muscles in the lower body to retrain the spinal cord to ‘remember’ the pattern of walking. LT improves trunk control in children with recent research showing 100% of children improved their trunk control after the completion of intensive LT blocks (1.5h per day, 5 days per week, for 60 sessions). Wide Pulse Stimulation (WPS) WPS targets many muscles at the same time when administered as part of active therapy. Applying an electrical stimulus through electrodes as the individual performs an exercise or functional task signals the central nervous system to develop new pathways or strengthen existing ones. neurokinex.org
STOMPING FEET
try it as it has a bespoke children’s gym with lots of unique equipment to suit youngsters,” she says. “Being so young, Theo learns through play and the equipment at Neurokinex Kids and the wonderfully engaging manner of its therapists suits him perfectly.” Theo started at Neurokinex Kids at Gatwick in October 2018 and participates in activities and games that encourage his interaction, co-ordination, core stability and leg strength. “We start each session with some gentle stretches and vibration training to relieve Theo’s high spasticity,” explains Marilla Cameron, Neurokinex trainer. “Having relaxed his muscles, he is then ready to work. One of his highlights is using the Locomotor Treadmill where he is held in a harness that takes much of his weight to enable him to walk,” she says. “Because of the tension in his legs, Theo naturally walks on tip toes but our therapy places his feet and legs correctly on the Locomotor Trainer so he learns how to land his
whole foot down in a movement we call ‘Stomping Feet’,” explains Marilla. In just over six months, Theo has made noticeable improvements in his seated posture and core control as well as improved walking with his walking frame. He attends Neurokinex for one hour a week and in the summer holidays is looking to do an intensive block week of work to boost his progress. He has also gained a great deal of core strength which helps him sit better and put his legs nearly straight. This is a big advance as it means his hips are better aligned while his improved core and leg strength mean he is walking better with this mobility frame. “Neurokinex is the perfect balance of work and fun,” says Laura. “They understand what Theo likes and tailor the programme to suit him. There is a lot of interactive play and distraction to fully engage Theo in the ‘games’: I can only imagine the freedom he feels in these sessions.”
Theo Snelling is six years old. He has four-limb dystonic cerebral palsy. His condition means he cannot walk unaided and is not always in control of his movements. Despite the challenges of his condition, Theo is a fiercely independent boy and will stop at nothing to gain a little control and independence. Since joining Neurokinex Kids Theo’s progress has taken several steps forward – literally. Aged just eight months, Theo was diagnosed with dystonic cerebral palsy – with the dystonia aspect limiting his ability to control his movements. He needs round-the clock care and help with dressing, eating and toileting, and he communicates via an electronic device. Theo finds it hard to sit up or straighten his legs and adopts a ‘W’ sitting posture which puts his hips out of alignment. His mum Laura was keen to find some rehabilitation therapy to help strengthen Theo’s core, build his leg muscle strength and, ultimately, improve his posture and walking function. “Neurokinex was recommended to us and we were especially keen to
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Wessex Lifts have been designing, manufacturing, installing, and maintaining through-floor lifts and platform lifts with the help of Occupational Therapists and other healthcare professionals, for over 40 years...
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ADVE R T ORIAL
WHAT IS REBOUND THERAPY? By Eddy Anderson and Paul V Kaye
The phrase ‘rebound therapy’ was coined by the founder, Eddy Anderson, in 1969 to describe the use of the moving surface (bed) of a fullsized trampoline in order to provide therapeutic exercise and recreation for people with a wide range of special needs.
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ebound therapy is used by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, SEN teachers, and health and care staff to facilitate movement, to promote balance, to increase or decrease muscle tone, and to aid relaxation and sensory integration. It is also used to improve fitness and exercise tolerance and to improve communication skills. In addition to these benefits, rebound therapy is an ideal vehicle for cross curricular teaching activity; with the potential for teaching such things as numeracy, colour recognition, positioning, communication, social awareness and consideration of others.
and providing evidence of outcomes. This is called the Huddersfield Functional Index. therapy session. This form of therapy is popular in special needs schools and is becoming increasingly popular in mainstream schools with a special needs unit; partly because the trampoline is a piece of apparatus that virtually all people, regardless of their abilities, can access, benefit from and enjoy.
The unique properties of the trampoline offer ample opportunities for everybody to enhance movement patterns. The work is intrinsically Rebound therapy is not gymnastic motivating and enjoyable and returns trampolining; however, as the high value in therapeutic terms for the student with additional needs time and the effort involved. increases his skills, he can, if his We recently received a comment ability allows, progress through the from a headmaster that having a award levels of the development dozen of his staff trained as rebound scheme which practitioners use. therapy practitioners was the most This scheme not only records and effective training expenditure he rewards progress, it is designed to had ever commissioned, in terms gradually taper into a mainstream of measurable outcome from his scheme. Therefore all children students. regardless of ability can work The fact that the activity is so through the same development enjoyable can enable it to be used programme and make progress at as a motivational aid to learn. Many the rate that their ability allows. teachers also report increased The development scheme also concentration and willingness to learn includes a method of accurately in the classroom following a rebound measuring and recording progress
The governing body and international consultancy for rebound therapy is reboundtherapy.org. They are responsible for the development and provision of certificated practitioner training courses for therapists, schools, centres and individuals throughout the UK, and across the world. The courses are accredited by the Professional Development Board for Physical Education which is a division of the Association for Physical Education (AfPE). You can find out more about Rebound Therapy and the training courses on offer at reboundtherapy.org, by emailing info@reboundtherapy.org or calling 01342 870543.
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Introducing Our New Identity.
renewed freedom
Transforming lives One individual’s experience of having a wash and dry toilet installed
W
e all know that one of the key activities of daily living is being able to go to the toilet independently. For patients who cannot access a toilet safely and independently in their home, they are at risk of many different issues including infection and injury, and it can have a huge impact on the individual mentally. There are a number of solutions available on the market today and one of those options is having a wash and dry toilet installed. This style of product allows an individual to access the toilet safely without the need to wipe – a common problem for people with upper limb mobility issues and other disabilities.
Borough of Havering, to see what help was available. Social services assessed her, and arranged for the Closomat to be installed in the wetroom in the Romford bungalow she shares with her husband. “I was even thinking about taking tablets to stop me ‘going,’ it was such a problem to be clean. I couldn’t reach behind, and the conformation of my wrists and hands meant I couldn’t hold, or use, toilet paper,” explained Theresa. “I hadn’t even heard of a wash and dry toilet before, but it has honestly changed my life. It is amazing. I sometimes just look at it and smile to myself with happiness, it has made such a difference.”
THE PALMA VITA Closomat is the brand leader in wash and dry toilets, with its Palma Vita being the only model of its kind developed specifically for people with disabilities. It looks like, and
can be used as, a conventional WC. Integrated douching and drying enables the user to be thoroughly and effectively cleaned after bladder/bowel movements, without having to manually wipe. Uniquely, the Closomat Palma Vita can be accessorised initially and retrospectively to adapt to individual needs and ability. As standard, the douching and drying is triggered by the flush mechanism mounted on the face of the closecoupled cistern; options include a touch sensitive switch, infra-red or proxy switch. The toilet height, seat and douche can also all be personalised to each user, and body and arm supports added, including appropriate systems for paediatric or bariatric users. You can contact Closomat on 0161 969 1199, email info@clos-o-mat.com or visit clos-o-mat.com.
One great example of an individual who has reaped the benefits of the installation of a wash and dry toilet is Theresa Jago. Theresa went to see her GP about problems she was having in daily life because of brittle bone disease and arthritis, she didn’t expect it to result in her having a new toilet courtesy of her local council. The new fixture - a Closomat Palma Vita wash and dry WC - has, she says, changed her life, to the extent she often just looks at it and smiles with happiness. Theresa’s health problems meant she couldn’t wipe herself properly. Every time she went to the toilet, she was then having a shower because she still felt dirty. Unaware of the help potentially available to her, she went to her local GP. He referred her case to the local authority, London -magazine.co.uk
73
We are
We are
Client Centred
Supportive We are
Positive
We are
Quality Focused Bringing ILS values into focus As the UK’s leading independent Case Management and Rehabilitation company for over 25 years, listening to our clients and our workforce lies at the heart of the ILS culture. That’s why we worked collaboratively with clinical and head office staff to define our ILS Company Values. By bringing these into focus, we recognise that these are core values that Occupational Therapists utilise within their work and professional development. Providing a person-centred service to our clients has always been our priority, but we give equal importance to giving the therapist the freedom to tailor their clinical approach to suit the needs of the client. Our therapists tell us that their work has been enhanced by being able to put their clients’ needs at the heart of their professional decision making. ILS’s ethos of supporting our OTs with dedicated mentors has also helped with professional development and the confidence to work as an independent practitioner.
We have
Integrity “Many team members tell us they really appreciate the flexibility offered by ILS. Roles with us allow for part-time or negotiable hours of working, enabling work for ILS to sit well alongside existing positions whether within statutory services or on a self-employed basis. At ILS, OTs can work from their own homes and receive paid travel and mileage for all client work.” Catherine Williams, Clinical Lead at ILS Rehabilitation Solutions.
If your values align with ours, why not join us? ILS are currently recruiting experienced OTs looking for a new challenge to the following specialisms: Moving & Handling - especially in the South East region. Posture Management- especially in the South East and West regions. Paediatric Occupational Therapists- especially in the South West. If you are interested in working for ILS as an independent Therapist on a selfemployed basis, please contact either Catherine Williams, (Clinical Lead, Rehabilitation Solutions) or the ILS Human Resources Department on 01722 742442. You can also register your CV and apply via our website www.indliv.co.uk
T: 01722 742 442 • www.indliv.co.uk
EVER CONSIDERED
FOR CPD? Rachel Johnson is the lead OT at the Seashell Trust and here she explains why podcasts can be a great way of contributing to your CPD, especially when you are low on time.
“Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the way in which registrants continue to learn and develop throughout their careers. They do this in order to keep their skills and knowledge up to date and are able to practice safely and effectively”. Therapists are required by the Health and Care Professions Council to prove they have kept up their CPD. The most common reasons cited for not taking CPD opportunities appear to be lack of time and the cost. In the current financial climate, and with the ongoing pressures on the NHS, these considerations are very real challenges that limit participation in CPD. For staff not working in an academic setting, or in the NHS who do not have access or an Athens account, access to journal articles or text books can be limited. To supplement my own CPD, I have recently started using podcasts as a free and easily accessible means of “learning on the go”. There are a large number of free podcasts available covering a wide range of topics. E-books are an alternative form of ‘portable’ CPD, however there is usually a fee to download them.
(there is no cost involved), which means my phone downloads them automatically for me and they are ready and waiting when I have the time and inclination to listen. I am completely free to choose the topic dependent on my circumstances on that day. The benefit of listening on the go is that I regularly take the time to press the pause button and reflect on my own practice - something that can sometimes feel like a luxury during the working day! For those of you who have not
listened to podcasts before, it is very easy to do. If you have a smart phone, open your podcast app and search. My favourites include A Glass Half Full (occupational therapy talk), The Sensory Project Show, The OT School podcast (hosted by Jayson Davies) The Sensory Matters Show and of course the Royal College of Occupational Therapy Podcast. When searching for occupational therapy in podcasts, there are a wide range of options covering every aspect of occupational therapy. I recommend not limiting yourself to occupational therapy topics; management, leadership, reflection and self-development have been recent topics I have explored which all contribute to my CPD in different ways.
I listen to podcasts when walking my dog, waiting in a waiting room, sitting on the train and sometimes when driving. I have developed a number of favourites over time and chosen to subscribe to them -magazine.co.uk
75
Yourevents
IN THIS ISSUE we bring you this year’s round-up of events taking place in the OT calendar.
If you have, or know of, an event please email it into enquiries@2apublishing.co.uk
Kidz to Adultz Events These events are dedicated to children and young adults with disabilities. They offer free CPD-accredited seminars and a large exhibition of companies showcasing independent living products and services to help young disabled people. Event dates: 4 MAR – KIDZ TO ADULTZ MIDDLE 7 MAY – KIDZ TO ADULTZ SOUTH 2 JUL – KIDZ TO ADULTZ WALES & WEST 10 SEPT – KIDZ TO ADULTZ SCOTLAND 12 NOV – KIDZ TO ADULTZ NORTH
kidzexhibitions.co.uk 17-18 MAR
Naidex NEC, Birmingham
OTAC Events
The UK’s largest disability event, you will find hundreds of exhibitors all under one roof. They have a dedicated OT seminar programme and the opportunity to network, learn and discover new innovations and hear disabled people talk about issues important to them. naidex.co.uk
The UK’s only Occupational Therapy Adaptations Conference (OTAC). These events take place throughout the year across the country. Free to attend and packed full of seminars, networking opportunities and a chance to speak to experts showcasing relevant products and services. Event dates: 22 JAN – OTAC MIDLANDS 5 FEB – OTAC LLANELLI 22 APRIL – OTAC LEEDS 13 MAY – OTAC EXETER 17 JUN – OTAC CAMBRIDGE 8 JUL – OTAC READING 9 SEPT – OTAC SOUTHAMPTON 21 OCT – OTAC NEWCASTLE 4 NOV – OTAC KENT 9 DEC – OTAC CHESTER
otac.org.uk
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-magazine.co.uk
17-18 MAR
Dementia Care and Nursing Home Expo NEC, Birmingham Ideal for anyone working in social care settings. This show boasts over 100 seminars and 50 masterclasses all designed to help you expand, evolve and innovate your social care business. carehomeexpo.co.uk
2020Calendar 17-18 MAR
24-25 JUN
2-4 NOV
European Neuro Convention
Health Plus Care
PMG Conference
NEC, Birmingham This is Europe’s only trade event for brain and spine experts. It has CPD-accredited presentations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and the latest innovations in the medical arena on display. neuroconvention.com
ExCel, London This show combines The Healthcare Show, The Residential and Home Care Show, The Digital Healthcare Show and The IPC and Patient Safety Show. The show boasts a wealth of information and ideas on the healthcare industry all under one roof. healthpluscare.co.uk
The International Centre, Telford Posture and Mobility Group’s annual conference provides an educational programme, industry exhibition and networking events for professionals working in the field of posture and wheeled mobility. pmguk.co.uk
17-18 MAR
Future Health ExCel, London Future Health is a unique and dynamic event for the global healthcare industry. This international world class exhibition and conference is an annual showcase of innovative healthcare products and solutions. futurehealth.global
30 JUN
RCOT Members’ Day Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester A new RCOT members-only event where you can get ‘up close and personal’ with RCOT. Participate in interactive sessions, share and learn about developments in best practice, connect with your fellow members and build professional relationships. rcot.co.uk
25-26 NOV
The OT Show NEC, Birmingham 24-25 APR
BAPO Ricoh Arena, Coventry BAPO holds the UK’s largest annual conference for professionals working in the prosthetics and orthotics arena. They host a clinical programme, an exhibition and have a call for papers to be submitted too. bapo.com
The unmissable show sees in excess of 5000 OTs descend upon the NEC to knowledge share, network, attend seminars and workshops and discover innovations that can help individuals lead independent lives. The education programme is packed with integral presentations and on stand demonstrations take place throughout. theotshow.com
-magazine.co.uk
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WFOT Ever considered joining the World Federation of Occupational Therapists?
T
he World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) is the global voice for occupational therapy. It sets the standard for occupational therapy practice internationally, promoting excellence through research and education. It is a global community of OTs dedicated to improving their practice and promoting the value of occupational therapy. The WFOT began with formal discussions at a meeting of OTs held in England in June 1951, at which there were 28 representatives from various countries. There was a continued discussion in September of the same year at the Congress of the International Society of the Rehabilitation of the Disabled held in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1952 the WFOT was officially formed by ten countries; UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, Isreal, India and Denmark. Since the inauguration, the WFOT has grown to represent 101 member organisations throughout the world and it continues to see more countries
WFOT IN NUMBERS
1952 1959 Officially formed in
joining each year. 2018 saw China, Romania, Madagascar and Cyprus become full members of the WFOT. WFOT is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) which has been in official relations with the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 1959 and recognised by the United Nations (UN) since 1963. In 2010 they implemented World Occupational Therapy Day on 27 October, this day continues to be celebrated every year to help raise awareness of occupational therapy and tell the world about the important contribution OTs make to the health and happiness of people. Every four years the WFOT holds its International Congress and Exhibition; the most recent was held in Cape Town, South Africa in May 2018 and saw over 2000 delegates attend, they were treated to four days with 1150 presenters, workshops, poster sessions, networking opportunities and the perfect platform to knowledge share. The next WFOT Congress will take place in Paris in 2022.
the WFOT was admitted into official relations with the WHO
101 member organisations across the globe Representing
550,000 occupational therapists
29,000 individual members worldwide
900
27 approved education programmes
October is World OT Day
SUPPORTING OTS The WFOT supports the development, use and practice of occupational therapy worldwide, demonstrating its relevance and contribution to society and the value the profession has in contributing to the health of people throughout the world. If you are looking to immerse yourself a little further in your profession, why not consider a membership to the WFOT? Being part of a community of like-minded individuals can open up doors to areas you hadn’t even considered in your career. They have a wealth of resources and guides available online, from WFOT position statements on different areas of OT to manuals and guidelines, and online modules to help members in their practice and research.
WHAT DOES AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP OFFER YOU? 1 Support strategic international representation at key stakeholder events to progress, lobby and influence the importance and relevance of the occupational therapy profession at a global level, 2 Gain access to the exclusive members only part of the WFOT website. Imperative if you want to download the latest documents, guidance and materials produced by WFOT, 3 Receive generous discounts on products offered for sale in WFOT’s online store – individual members can save up to 50% on advertised prices, 4 Download the latest free publications and promotional materials up to 12 months in advance of them being released as public access, 5 Access the Occupational Therapy International Online Network (OTION) and closed forums via otion.wfot.org,
In order to join the WFOT you must contact RCOT to process this membership.
6 Receive online access to the twice-yearly issues of WFOT’s international professional journal WFOT Bulletin, 7 Access previously published editions of the WFOT Bulletin dating back to 1979, 8 Receive WFOT’s e-newsletter, published quarterly and sent direct to your inbox once you have registered on the WFOT website, 9 Receive a 20% discount on all books produced by Wiley Publishing, 10 Apply for WFOT’s Thelma Cardwell Foundation Award for Research, 11 Save over 50% off an annual MedBridge subscription, offering clinical education, patient education and home exercises by visiting medbridgeeducation.com/ wfot or using promo code WFOT at checkout.
To find out more about the WFOT visit wfot.org or follow them on Facebook and Twitter using @thewfot.
-magazine.co.uk
79
We are the largest provider of HP expert witnesses in the UK, renowned and respected in the field
For your next challenge… Join our expanding team of experienced Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists play a key role acting as expert witnesses in clinical negligence and personal injury litigation We require experienced occupational therapists to undertake case work, who are confident, have excellent communication skills (verbal & written), enjoy a challenge, are intrigued by the forensic nature of this work, and above all are keen to learn new skills. We offer Regular work on a case by case basis to fit in with other work commitments Excellent remuneration Full & on-going training & support You will work on a self employed, flexible basis, alongside your “day job” You will be working at a senior level with a minimum of 8 years post qualification experience as an OT or/and case manager
With a reputation for excellence and international quality accreditation, Harrison Associates provides case management and expert witness services for adults and children with life-changing injuries. Opportunities nationwide.
Case Managers
Expert Witnesses
We can offer: - Rewarding work, making a genuine difference; depth, industry-leading training; career development; - In-depth, - Regular supervision and support from highlyrespected professionals; - Flexible working from home; - Employment and self-employment options. Is this you?: - Qualified for at least 6 years (CM) or 8 years (EW). - Experience of complex conditions (eg ABI, CP). - Excellent clinical reasoning and writing skills, with the ability to think outside the box. Find out more at:
www.harrisonassociates.org /current-positions
Request an information pack at admin@somek.com
OTAC Events 2020
Visit an OTAC Event in 2020 OTAC presents exciting events that showcase the latest equipment and adaptation guidance as well as: CPD opportunities
OTAC Midlands
OTAC Llanelli
OTAC Leeds
OTAC Exeter
OTAC Cambridge
OTAC Reading
Drayton Manor Theme Park Wednesday 22nd January
Weetwood Hall Estate Wednesday 22nd April
Stradey Park Hotel & Spa Wednesday 5th February
The Jockey Club - Exeter Racecourse Wednesday 13th May
New products Over 40 exhibitors per event Networking Training including Moving and Handling by Handicare New Poster Presentations. FREE lunch and refreshments available all day!
#
OTAC20
Hallmark Hotel Wednesday 17th June
Please visit the OTAC website for more dates.
Hilton Hotel Wednesday 8th July
Proudly Sponsored by:
To book your FREE tickets visit our website or email sally@promoting-independence.co.uk For more information on exhibiting please contact karen@promoting-independence.co.uk
Media Partner:
www.otac.org.uk
A Reputation Built on Excellence
Successful completion of the EDGE People or Children Handling and Risk Assessment Key Trainer’s Certificate courses will provide delegates with the up to date skills, knowledge and tools to teach others in safer people or children handling skills and to conduct moving and handling risk assessments. • Healthcare Professionals All EDGE Services Trainers are nurses, occupational therapists or physiotherapists with at least ten years clinical experience and at least ten years training experience in this field. • Fully Accredited All our People and Children Handling and Risk Assessment Key Trainer’s Certificate courses are accredited by RoSPA Qualifications to Level 4 or Advanced Level 4. They are RCOT (The Royal College of Occupational Therapists) Approved Learning Awards and are recognised for providing continuing professional development by the CPD Certification Service.
All EDGE Key Trainer events comply with the following professional training standards; • The National Back Exchange Training Standards (2010) • The All Wales NHS Manual Handling Training Passport and Information Scheme (2010) • The Scottish Manual Handling Passport Scheme (2014). Please contact our friendly office team to discuss your training requirements in more detail.
• Invaluable Training Resources, Exclusive On-line Library and E-Learning Module Our training is supported by a professionally produced, fully illustrated and comprehensive 256-page course textbook, proposed documentation for onward training delivery, filmed practical techniques, an extensive and informative on-line resources library and a user-friendly e-learning module designed for front-line staff.
Courses Availab le Across the UK
EDGE services 01904 677853 enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk
Level 4 Award
edgeservices.co.uk
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