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Experiences as a Home Health OT in Multiple States March 31, 2020
Make The Pronoun Promise March 3, 2020
LGBTQIA+ 101: What Do the Letters Mean? March 3, 2020
My story February 29, 2020
LGBTQIA+ Resources for Healthcare Providers, Clients, and Families February 29, 2020

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Reflection of an OT during COVID-19🦠: I pride myself in striving to be occupation based and client-centered, regardless of the challenges that are faced in doing so in a healthcare system that for the most part does not fully understand the impact of occupational engagement (or lack thereof), and the integral role that occupational therapists play in supporting the healing process for each person... BUT, the affects of this pandemic, the isolation, and quarantines has challenged my ability to be occupation based (outside of BADLs) due to lack of resources, sanitation requirements, and limitation of room treatments. Today, a patient and myself both celebrated a win. The patient’s family was able to drop off clothes and we were able engage in simple but meaningful activity → folding and hanging clothes.👚 ••• The goal-oriented and client-centered skills we challenged included: • dynamic standing balance • functional mobility • B UE strengthening and ROM • endurance training • navigating through narrow walkways (to access closet) • problem solving • energy conservation • engagement in and return to previous/meaningful occupations ••• I don’t know about y’all but I haven’t felt like my best self at work due to the limitations and impact of COVID-19. I don’t feel magical when I’m mostly limited to biomechanical tasks, ther ex, or ther act that do not exactly correlate with an occupation. I don’t feel magical when my patients don’t enjoy at least one part of their therapy session. I don’t feel magical when a task is rote without intention. This pandemic has taken some magic away from all of our lives. Our routines, rituals, roles, and ability to engage in occupations have all transformed or been limited. However, I truly believe if you think openly and lead with love and compassion, you will find magic in even the darkest of times. I am so thankful for the magic that we cultivated today and am grateful for the fulfillment I feel when working with patients and engaging in the role of being an occupational therapist ✨

🚨 Inclusion Alert 🚨 ••• President Trump approved the re-authorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) for five years on Wednesday (3/25/2020), signing into law H.R. 4334, the Supporting Older Americans Act (SOAA) of 2020. The OAA was last reauthorized in 2016 under President Obama. ••• Since 1965, the OAA has supported older adults through programs designed: • prevent abuse and neglect • support caregivers • offer employment and community service opportunities • promote nutrition (for instance, through Meals on Wheels) • improve transportation options. ••• The SOAA of 2020 includes a 7% increase in funding in the initial year and a 6% increase annually for the remainder of the authorization. The act is the first bipartisan piece of LGBT-inclusive legislation to become law during the Trump administration, according to SAGE. The reauthorization will hold state and local departments of aging accountable for undertaking outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults who need services in their communities, according to the organization. The act will also support data collection, the needs of older/elderly LGBTQ+ individuals, and if their needs are being met. ••• According to the senators, the SOAA of 2020 will provide structure to: • ensure that those living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease are included in services • improve elder abuse prevention activities through increased outreach and education activities • increases the focus on addressing detrimental impacts of social isolation • promote multigenerational programming • advance support for age-friendly communities • improve the availability of transportation resources to seniors • extend the RAISE Family Caregivers Act for an additional year • extend the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Council for one year • enhance flexibility for states to better address the needs of grandparents raising grandchildren • increase transparency of home-modification opportunities for eligible older adults • upgrade data collection methods to understand unmet need in nutrition programs • bolster innovation in the OAA through evaluation of demonstrations and existing programs

We might be apart but we’re all in this together 💖 #communOT ••• No matter where you are, know you’re not alone in all of this craziness that is happening. ••• Right now, being apart is the best thing for us to do, in order for us to be together again (physically). ••• Don’t get me wrong, I reallllly miss the hugs (@mollysabidi & @sydneygbyron give THE best hugs). I miss going for hikes, getting coffee, sharing nachos, and everything else. This is really hard on all of us, on our occupations, our routines, and rituals. ••• However, I would rather go through this rough time NOW, in order to have it END sooner rather than later. I would rather go through this all than lose more lives because people couldn’t just stay in, wash their hands, and cover their mouth. I would rather be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. ••• We are truly all in this together. We ALL have to do our part, not just most or some of us. If staying in is your part, do it, and THANK YOU to those who are doing it. If going to work because you’re essential is your part, THANK YOU for showing up each day, even when it’s anxiety-inducing or scary. ••• Sending love to everyone, especially my OT, PT, and SLP siblings that aren’t as frequently recognized on the frontlines, I see you. Thank you @patchesofot for putting this all together 💖

Together. We are going to get through this together AND we need to work TOGETHER to get through this.👨🏻‍🤝‍👨🏾👩🏽‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏿‍🤝‍👩🏾 ••• Sending love and light to: nurses, PAs, Doctors, NPs, respiratory therapists, OTs, SLPs, PTs, COTAs, PTAs, CNAs, grocery workers, environmental and sanitation workers, teachers, lab techs, mechanics, law enforcement, national guard, transportation and truck drivers, directors, and every other essential worker at this time. I know we are all in uncharted territory, I am so thankful for each and everyone one of you. To everyone staying home, THANK YOU. To everyone practicing social distancing, THANK YOU. ••• Excited to be a part of a project, where a few of us hope to spread a message to bring everyone together. 💖

Making light of dark times✨: diving into a last-minute in service with my SLP bestie, covering feeding a positioning 🍝🥗🥤 ••• Following recommendations from the CDC and governing bodies, in order to practice social distancing and maximize prevention techniques, dining room meal times are no longer for the time being. This stretches our staff out even thinner than before COVID-19. With that, additional staffed were called to serve and assist with feeding for those who require assistance and equipment. In order to maximize safety, @eschlerhoag and I were asked to put together an in service to train those who don’t usually provide feeding assistance to others. ••• We covered the topics of: - Positioning (before/during/after mealtimes) - Setup - Food/Liquid consistencies - Adaptive equipment - S/S of aspiration or disruption in the swallowing mechanism - Sensory involvement and various cues - Pacing and bite size - Oral aftercare - Intake/nutrition ••• We created a competency quiz on altered diet, liquid consistency, and proper/improper positioning in standard chairs, W/C, or in bed (though I’m rarely a fan of mealtimes while in bed). So thankful for Candace, SLP and all that she has taught me about swallowing and screening. Also thankful for the opportunity to teach others and serve a hot plate of OT/SLP realness🔥

OT’s Vital Role During COVID-19 Pandemic🦠 ••• Hand Hygiene is an ADL 👋🏻🧼. OTs are skilled in assessing & analyzing means to completing this task through remedial, adaptation, or compensatory strategies to provide accessibility & the highest level of independence for task completion, regardless of level of ability, diagnosis, or disease. ••• OT is *the leading* profession to prevent hospital readmissions. Less readmissions = less people in the acute/hospital setting = more beds available = increased supplies and PPE for those in dire need. We collaborate with families & clients to set a plan of care from hospital to home, to facilitate safety & independence to age in place and remain the home environment. 🏘 ••• Disaster planning & emergency preparedness, especially in terms of accessibility based on the client/patients existing skills and abilities. This can include access to emergency contacts, ability to communicate needs, & ability to access the community and associated resources if unable to safely or independently access the community.🚗 ••• OTs ability to assist all clients, especially elderly populations with communication through virtual context. Assisting those who are not versed in technology or communication with the use of technology engage in meaningful family time & conversation, with the potential for reducing impact or onset of mental health symptoms.💻 ••• Providing training & skill via cognitive strategies for organization and advanced planning for completion of tasks in a timely manner, with energy conservation. OTs are environmental experts & can assist a client with planning a trip to the store or the community for necessities with a list of necessary goods, route to navigate the store to access necessary goods, resources to assist at the store, & refer back to hygiene = decreased time in store = decrease exposure. 🛒 ••• The real heroes are the doctors, PAs, nurses, respiratory therapists & researchers that are truly out here saving lives & working on a vaccine. However, occupational therapists have a vital role in this battle in prevention and skilled interventions, thus doing our part in saving lives and those not already affected 💖

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