The Well-Being Icebreakers In a senior living community outside of St. Louis, a group of women, ages 55 to 70, are making goals for themselves focused on improving their sense of wellbeing and their overall ability to manage lifes transitions. In the midst of laughter and conversation, they each create a web-like map of their strengths and challenges in the areas of physical activity, nutrition, sleep, positive emotions, their sense of purpose, social connectedness, and serving others.
The maps the group has created are visible tools that highlight the long-recognized indicators that can promote or hinder a sense of wellbeing. Director of Clinical Operations for Washington University Occupational Therapy, Pat Nellis, OTD, OTR/L and Occupational Therapist, Lisa Carson, OTD, OTR/L are leading the "Map Your Path to Well-Being" course with the goal being to develop actual functional tools that can help individuals enhance their sense of wellbeing. They are piloting a new public health and community education program that focuses on proactively identifying and addressing potential negative factors of wellbeing. The 9-week program was initially piloted in a group of disabled adults. Nellis is now working with seniors and hopes soon to develop a similar education tool to use with children.
"There are few, if any, comprehensive tools that evaluate areas such as meaningful occupation, social connectedness, mindfulness, and joy through helping others, says Nellis. "We want to help people develop an action plan to improve their quality of life and a sense of wellbeing and then share those proven tools with community groups, physicians and others as well as incorporate them into our occupational therapy clinical practice curriculum. Read more about our OT Services...
There Is Help For The Painful Thumb Content provided by Pattie Paynter, OTR/L, CHT Are you having problems opening a jar? Do you get pain in your thumb when turning a key or picking weeds in the garden? If you answer yes to these daily activities, you may have CMC OA or Carpometacarpal joint Arthritis. To help relieve the pain of this condition, below are steps that you can take:
- First step is to see a hand surgeon and obtain a diagnosis
- Identify activities of daily living that cause pain at the base of thumb
- Try to modify how you perform these activities to help decrease pain
- Look for adaptive equipment available that eliminates pain while performing these daily tasks
- Look for splints that stabilize the thumb and wear the splint at night
If you do have these symptoms and receive a formal diagnosis from your hand surgeon, request a referral to Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center. We have 2 convenient locations with Certified Hand Therapists who will provide you with an exercise program that with increase your strength and stabilize your thumb. Learn more about the Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center...
CBIT: a Non-Medicated Approach to Tic Management Content provided by Karen Balk, MOT, OTR/L Motor and vocal tics due to tic disorders, Tourette Syndrome, or other medical conditions can make doing daily tasks difficult and unsuccessful. Families who have a member who experiences this condition often look for ways to manage the tics without medication. Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is one of the programs that has had success in giving people the chance to take control of their tics without medication and increase success with their daily tasks without side effects. In a CBIT OT session, we focus on:
- Gaining awareness of tics and their triggers
- Helping patients gain the ability to analyze their tic presentation and create a competing response exercise to manage his or her tics
- Teaching strategies to manage triggers, adapt environments and tasks, and manage stress
- Presenting education on current research, local and national support systems, and school and community accommodations
Traditionally, the CBIT OT program runs 8-12 weeks. Each program is customized to the clients and family's needs and all programs are run by a certified CBIT provider. CBIT has been found to be 80% effective in managing tics. Improved management of tics results in an increase in confidence and more success in participating in home and community tasks for children and adults. If you or someone you know experience a tic disorder or other medical conditions that interfere with daily tasks, consider contacting us about our CBIT program. Learn more about our Comprehensive Behavior Intervention for TICS (CBIT) Services... |
