A Community Forum for sharing practice experiences, advice and support, in a time of change and occupational adjustment...
As the global community reacts to the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians, service users and the public are having to adjust to new ways of living and working. In an uncertain climate, occupational balance, engagement and participation will be inevitably affected. Whilst fundamental to slowing the spread of the virus, social distancing and isolation are also likely to impact on physical and mental health and well-being...
Occupational Therapy Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic - WFOT Public Statement:
'The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on the lives, health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities worldwide... As a profession, we recognise the consequences and changes that are occurring in how people access and undertake their occupations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include, but are not limited to: accessing resources, activities of daily living, communication, mobility, social isolation, displacement, mental health and wellbeing. Occupational therapists understand the vital need to access and use infection control measures, combined with the need to sustain good psychological, mental health and stamina in order to stay safe and healthy. Occupational therapists will be working with people to develop strategies to facilitate continued access to their occupations. These will include, but will not be limited to: individual, family, community, social and environmental adaptation, mental health, assistive technology and telehealth.'
> Read more from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists
In the spirit of care and collaboration, The Occupational Therapy Hub offers you this dedicated space for open dialogue, on themes such as (but not limited to):
Adapting occupational therapy practice
Adapting occupational therapy education and studies
Supporting specific client groups
Coping strategies, to offer fellow colleagues or those you support
We invite you to engage below, in discussions that have the potential to support you and others, worldwide.
All the best,
The Occupational Therapy Hub Team hubteam@theOThub.com
Hello all
If anyone is interested in Long Covid, we hosted a webinar last week on it which was well received, a recording is available at https://youtu.be/L8OP_SO-v7U
If anyone wants the slides just give me a shout via linkedin or at tristan.hulbert@yorkshirecare.com
Would be glad to hear any other resources anyone has on Long Covid for OTs, I've seen the page on the RCOT website which is good but the more information I can digest on it the better 👍😊
Many thanks
Tristan
P.S. I'm always glad to receive new connection requests from OTs on LinkedIn! 😁https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristanmhulbert/
OT and 'Long covid'
There is a separate Therapy Forum discussion, titled 'OT with Long Covid Patients.' Take a look if interested!
FACE COVID- How to respond to the Cornoa Crisis by Russ Harris
Russ Harris explains how to use the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people manage in the present moment during the stressors of the pandemic.
t may be helpful to focus on how to use this values based approach to further explore the role of meaningful occupation and routines to help people develop a life alongside their suffering and pain.
I found this webinar really helpful to reflect and how to recognise and address my own burn out, in order to help others. Worth a watch.
Adapting to COVID19: OT's Unique Contribution
Amongst the chaos surrounding coronavirus, this webinar has been developed to promptly address issues confronting occupational therapists in the field.
Ever wondered why you give to others before giving to yourself?
Ever struggled to care for yourself?
Would you like to know how to manage competing priorities in a structured way?
Would you like to be armed with skills that enable you to support your clients, colleagues and the community whilst role modelling our unique capacity as OTs?
If you answered 'yes' to any of the above questions, this webinar holds value for you.
About the webinar host:
Corey La is registered Occupational Therapist (2007) and Allied Mental Health Practitioner in Australia, who identifies as part of the CALD and LGBTIQ+ community. He has volunteered his time to discuss the pertinent issues we as OTs face in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. He has experience in multiple work environments using critical thinking skills to inform his practice across various levels of clinical care (acute, community and private); management (middle and senior); and vocations (disability, occupational rehabilitation, hospital and currently as a sole trader in mental health care). In addition to referencing research and his own evidence based practice, he has leveraged his thought expert contacts including psychologists, General Practitioners, clinical managers and Psychiatrists currently in the field, in the development of this presentation.
Cornoavirus and anxiety self-help
As the coronavirus spreads, more and more people are becoming anxious about what it might mean for themselves and their loved ones.
It’s completely understandable (and normal!) to feel anxious about this emerging health crisis. As part of efforts to take best care of body and mind, here are some tips that might help in tolerating these uncertain times.
Five ways to well-being
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Rehabillitation
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) is focused on providing members with guidance throughout the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
Rehabilitation is fast becoming the new priority in dealing with the impact of this pandemic. The RCOT has provided key resources and guidance on their new rehabilitation web page, exploring why occupational therapists are fundamental in the fight against coronavirus through rehabilitation.
Here's part 2....
Here's a short video I made for college students to help them keep well and manage studies in the context of COVID-19. It's the first in a three part series. It's based on a programme I have developed called Everyday Matters.
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/everyday-matters-healthy-habits-for-college-students/
In this piece I reflect on how mindful self compassion and other self care practices are helping me cope with COVID-19 lockdown.
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/keeping-it-together-when-it-feels-like-things-are-falling-apart/
I wrote this about my experience of adjusting to a vastly different work/home life post-COVID-19 lockdown.
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/trial-and-error-schedules-and-surprises-family-life-and-being-good-enough-during-covid-19-lockdown/
Here are a few links to newly updated info from the UK's Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE):
Supporting people who are isolated or vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis
COVID-19 guide for social workers and occupational therapists supporting adults with learning disabilities or autistic adults
'Occupational Balance: A reflection during the COVID-19 crisis. Thoughts for now and beyond.'
By @Georgina West
'We are noticing the impact that isolation and lockdown, as a result of COVID-19, are having on people’s ability to achieve a sense of occupational balance; particularly if they are also struggling with pre-existing or new mental health symptoms, recovering from physical injury, or living with a long-term disability, where occupational balance was perhaps already compromised..
Achieving a sense of occupational balance is a dynamic process; it is not a state of being, or something you seek to achieve one day and that’s that. It differs for each person, depending on their roles, responsibilities, routines and habits, plus their own subjective perceptions of quality of life and well-being. All of these are of course ever-changing.'
I am a Mental Health OT working in a community hospital. I wrote a wellness resource for patients in our hospital who are on precautions; my boss promoted my efforts, and my hospital's PR department was really motivated to develop it for our patients. I truly believe that as OT's we are uniquely positioned to do good. As a mental health OT I hope that this can reach as many people as can benefit. OT Strong!!!
Please find two free to access videos of how to prone in the community with two staff. We have been being very creative with the equipment that most loan stores have in stock
htpps://www.a1risksolutions.co.uk/content/covide-19
Student Therapists and Covid-19
As discussed in the forum we are all going through an unprecedented time of change both as therapists and within our personal lives. I am conscious that there is a lot of media coverage regarding students being given temporary registration in order to begin work early and help the NHS. Though this is a great opportunity and a valuable way to help reduce the workload for healthcare professionals, this may not be the right decision for all students. Beginning work as a newly qualified OT is a dauting prospect at the best of times and even experienced practitioners get nervous when starting a new role. It is important that as a student you feel supported and empowered when making the decision whether to begin work early or wait until you can return to university to complete your studies.
It would be great to hear from some students who are making this decision and are willing to reflect on this in order to support one another and gain a better idea of the thought processes and emotion behind your final decision.
Whatever the decision you make, know that it is the right one for you and that there is no judgement now or in the future.
'Coronavirus - A Book for Children'
Hundreds of thousands of people have downloaded a new coronavirus book for primary school age children, illustrated by best-selling Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler.
Authors: Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson and Nia Roberts
Illustration: Axel Scheffler
Consultant: Professor Graham Medley, Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
'There’s a new word you might have heard.
You might hear people talking about it or you might hear it on the news. This word is the reason that you’re not going to school. It is the reason you can’t go outside very often or visit your friends. It might be the reason why the grown-up or grown-ups who look after you are at home. The word is Coronavirus.'
Occupational therapy and isolation
Hi all. I've found a great opinion piece, from an Irish occupational therapist writing in The Irish Times. Here's an excerpt, with link to full article below...
"Sir, – As an occupational therapist, I cannot help but see the importance of occupation during this time of isolation. People are finding themselves without any routine, reduced roles and altered rituals. They are finding themselves stumbling at the first block of Ann Wilcock’s 'doing, being, becoming and belonging' theory (1999). People are unable to do. This in turn has limited their capacity to contribute to their own lives, their families, and society.
This, in some instances, may lead to a reduced sense of self-worth, self-esteem, purpose and ultimately affect their mental health. If we are unable to do, we are unable to be, and if we cannot be, we cannot become and cannot belong..."
> Continue reading on The Irish Times
'Engagement in living during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing occupational disruption'
Karen Whalley Hammell, PhD, OT(C), MRCOT
Honorary Professor
Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia
> Read full article
'Fortunately, as occupational therapists, we already possess the knowledge required to fully engage in life despite the current, formidable challenges. We have had the opportunity to learn from the experiences of so many clients whose seemingly predictable lives - and the mundane, taken-for-granted expectations, plans and routines that had structured those lives - have been disrupted by factors beyond their control, such as serious injury or illness, job loss, acts of violence, natural disasters, or forced migrations. From our clients and the research evidence we know that resilience in the face of crisis is the norm rather than the exception.' (Hammell, 2020)
Thank you for this Kristian, I have also been thinking about the experience of people with COVID and being in the intensive care treatment situation. The sensual awareness, particularly hearing, may not be evident to those giving the treatment. The person may be very frightened by the perceived chaos around them. This may already be happening ( I am sharing my occupational thoughts here) Staff may help this substantially by remembering that within the chaos of the situation the patient is a person with an individual life with many different roles and responsibilities for example family, friends, and work/study/skills/leisure and belong to different life groups. I recall being at the RCOT18 conference and listening to the plenary by Chris Pointon, his wife had died from terminal cancer. His promise to his wife (Dr Kate Granger MBE) was to introduce the practice of each person saying to a patient "Hello my name is ....." even when the person is believed to be unconscious. This has proved to be a truly significant service development in all health and social care services. Kate recalled feeling isolated and further traumatised when staff around her just did their work without introducing themselves and not knowing what was happening to her. This is so relevant in the highly pressured environments that intensive care treatment for COVID. Thinking with my occupational therapy philosophy head and skill set I think more than ever to remember this approach will help not only the person being treated but also the staff members providing the care. This short phrase will help the staff member to engage, no matter how briefly with the person this may help staff also cope with the trauma of this work role. By explaining simply as they go about their work roles what is happening and why, that underneath all the strange gowns, masks, and various equipment they are a Dr, Nurse, Support Worker whoever they are. I believe this may bring a stronger sense of humanity as it did at the time for Kate. Her husband Chris Pointon now campaigns tirelessly for this to happen in her name. For the staff member themself it may help with coping with the incredible level of trauma and stress. However, as already said earlier this may in fact be happening. This occupational focus of the individual person is the center of this thinking. My greatest respect to everyone involved with the hands-on care !!!