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From Technology To Frozen Grapes-

Thinking Like an Occupational Therapist.

Will Soles, OTR/L MS CSRS

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Who Am I?

  • I’ve been an occupational therapist since 1999
  • I’ve worked for over 12 years in an acute neuro-rehabilitation setting
  • I’ve taught occupational therapy for 7 years
  • I currently am a full-time faculty member at Nazareth University where I teach neuro-rehabilitation as well as other OT centered courses

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Format

  • What is OT?
  • How can we help?
  • Maximizing your day
  • Helpful Hints
  • Resources
  • Q&A

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Who's the expert???

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You’re the expert

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What is Occupational Therapy?

  • Occupational Therapy: “Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living. “ -AOTA

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Occupations

  • 1. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • 2. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
  • 3. Rest and Sleep
  • 4. Education
  • 5. Work
  • 6. Play
  • 7. Leisure
  • 8. Social Participation
  • 9. Health Management

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OT for PD

  • Supporting Self Management
  • Environmental Supports
  • Adapting Occupations (ADL’s, work, etc.)

So how do we that???

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OT Interventions

  • Use activity analysis- looking at the fit of the activity for the person we are working with.
  • Provide suggestions for adaptions at allow for participation
  • Address barriers that are interfering with participation

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SO WHERE DO FROZEN GRAPES COME IN?

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They are an example:

  • Frozen grapes are a way of cooling beverages without diluting them (just don’t choke on them)

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  • Said another way, it is a creative solution to a problem- something occupational therapy practitioners are trained to be good at

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What this presentation is going to be:

  • Ideas to consider that may help you with participating in your life to its fullest

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Be aware that it may be helpful to get input from an occupational therapy practitioner regarding the specifics of your individual situation

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��*No relations to The Four Tops

The 4 P’s

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#1 Prioritize

  • Consider what is most important to you and your significant others
  • Clarify your values
  • Put your energy there

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#2 Plan

  • Based on your priorities think about how you may want to structure your activities routines
  • Being proactive vs. reactive

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

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#3 Pace

  • Find a sustainable pace
  • Avoiding rushing
  • Overbooking= more fatigue

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

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#4 Position

  • Standing vs. sitting vs. something else
  • Position/body-mechanics impacting function

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

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Helpful (???) Hints

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I’m worried about falling…

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I’m having trouble getting off the toilet…

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What about getting dressed?

  • Clothing choices
  • Adaptive equipment

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What can I do about mealtime?

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Taking my medications…

  • Low
  • Medium &
  • High-tech solutions

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  • Depending on your needs

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Using my phone???

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Resources:

  • Nazareth University
    • Pro-bono clinics
    • OT
    • PT
    • NC3 (Speech)
    • Research!

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Resources

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Questions?

wsoles7@naz.edu