The OT Magazine – May / Jun 2021 by 2A Publishing

THE

MAGAZINE Issue 40 | May/Jun 21 | Improving Independence

3D Printing Could this technology be the answer to creating bespoke adaptations for independent living?

COLU M N S

PRO DUC T S

CPD

EVENTS

MENTAL HEALTH

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About us

The Team

Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writer: Katie Campbell Designer: Fionnlagh Ballantine Production: Donna Deakin Sales: Danny McGonigle Contributors: Kate Sheehan, Katie Brereton, Greg Floyd, Alison Williams, David Saunders, Stuart Barrow

This month’s issue...

Get in touch 2A Publishing, 20-23 Woodside Place, Glasgow, G3 7QL 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 2021 © 2A Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. ISSN-2056-7146

ife is starting to feel a little brighter. As the restrictions begin to lift and cautious normality resumes, the general mood of the nation is being uplifted.

One of the most exciting things is that physical occupational therapy events are starting up again. We will be able to interact as real people with fellow OTs, networking over a coffee, learning in a seminar and browsing independent living aids at exhibitor stands. Following a year of virtual events and Zoom calls, this will be a refreshing change of scene. We can also be safe in the knowledge that every safety precaution will be taken at these events in line with government guidelines, and many organisers are providing online access to their events for those who can’t make it in person. This issue celebrates many new products and services, from the comprehensive online product index ProAssist by DLF, to the awardwinning app designed to assist OTs in the assessment process and the disruptive invention of the affordable, portable raised bidet seat that can fit on any toilet. We also explore 3D printing and discover just how accessible these printers are now, and look at their application in the creation of independent living aids. They are no longer a futuristic dream in a sci-fi movie, tomorrow’s technology is here now and can be used to improve independence. We hope you enjoy this issue, we also hope the sun returns so we can gather in our gardens and we strongly hope that we can all put the last year behind us and look forward to a safe existence without restrictions. The OT Magazine, Editor

SUBSCRIBE TODAY Further your career and enhance your CPD by subscribing to The OT Magazine

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What’s inside 08 What’s New

Bringing you up-to-date with all the latest news from the health sector

13 The Right to

Rehabilitation

Kate Sheehan discusses how important it is to fight for patients’ right to receive rehabilitation

15 Log Off, Switch Off How could introducing a legal right to disconnect benefit the UK’s workforce?

19 Product Focus The latest must-have products on the market

22 Designing

Accessible Kitchens

Columnist Kate Sheehan explains how OTs can create kitchens to suit clients’ needs

25 Day in the Life Meet Katie Brereton, a student OT who previously held a role within a community neuro rehab team

26 Technology and

Innovation

Discover the award-winning app that has been developed for OTs

30 DLF ProAssist Discover the new platform designed to help with prescribing independent living products 6

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32 Fibromyalgia

and OT

Could occupational therapy help in treating patients who live with fibromyalgia?

35 Product Focus More of the latest must-have products

38 The Washseat Meet the portable bidet system that’s helping to promote toilet independence

40 Creative Therapy Get to know the team at St Andrews’ Healthcare who are transforming lives with creative therapy

Product

Focus 35

44 Tomorrow’s

Technology, Today

Could 3D printing help to fill the gaps in adaptive technology?

46 Re-Active Resources to help OTs get disabled clients back into sporting communities

48 Independence at

Mealtimes

55 TikTok for

Beginners

Meet the OTs using TikTok to spread the message of occupational therapy on social media

58 Paediatric Products Innovative products for your younger clients

65 Events Calendar Essential dates for your diary

How crucial is the role of occupational therapy in eating? -magazine.co.uk

We explore what’s happening in the healthcare sector, from new products and services to inspirational stories

What’s new? DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY

AUDIO PLAY

Captial Theatres, in partnership with Traverse Theatre are presenting a new audio project aimed at people living with dementia, their loved ones and carers, When the Sun Meets the Sky. Capital Theatres are leaders in arts and dementia engagement and have produced this audio play in collaboration with people who have lived experience of dementia. It has been produced in lieu of the annual Care Setting Theatre Tour which was cancelled due to the pandemic. The play is set in iconic Edinburgh locations - from summertime in the Meadows after the war, to a

Beatles gig in the ABC on Lothian Road, Christmastime on the Mound in the 80s and ending up in the Port O’Leith after the turn of the millennium, When The Sun Meets The Sky tracks Maggie through the decades as she discovers herself, her city and tries to get to the bottom of a mystery that’s eluded her since childhood. The play will be delivered to care homes in and around Edinburgh as well as to individuals living in the community and it is now available on Capital Theatre’s YouTube channel and the Traverse 3 website. Transcriptions and closed captions are available online, with DVDs, CDs and large print versions available for those without internet access.

To further enhance the experience, Capital Theatres has produced a number of sensory packs which will be distributed to care homes and individuals alongside the play. These packs will include items relating to the stories that can be touched or smelled like a small bottle containing an essence of a smell of freshly cut grass. The packs will also provide a list of conversation starters to encourage listeners to delve deeper into the themes explored in the play and share their own experiences. The team has also produced an easy guide to making your own sensory pack at home. The producers would like to encourage those who are interested in experiencing the project to get in touch by emailing dawn.irvine@ capitaltheatres.com.

PLANT-CARE, SELF-CARE INITIATIVE Earlier this year a team of occupational therapists at Sport For Confidence teamed up with Essex County Council to support adults with learning disabilities and autism who were struggling to manage their self-care during these times of extended social isolation. The Plant-care, Self-care Wellbeing Project saw selected adults benefit from the gift of a house plant, delivered directly to their door. OT Megan Potts, Sport For Confidence, explains: “The ongoing disruption to daily routine imposed by the pandemic can have a profound effect on mental health, especially on individuals living with autism and 8

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learning disabilities. “A plant needs daily care and attention in order to thrive. By gifting a house plant, in addition to introducing a purpose, we are shining a light on the importance of maintaining a daily routine in order to flourish.” As part of this project, each plant was accompanied by an information leaflet which, not only gave information about how to care for the plant, but also promoted self-care, giving advice and practical guidance. Tom Doughty, Project Lead and Coach, Sport For Confidence,

added: “For most people, the government directive to ‘stay home’ has driven a significant change to daily routine. Some people, especially those with additional needs, find it difficult to adjust. This project is an excellent example of how Sport For Confidence, backed by the council, is working with a range of community services to introduce new and innovative ways that engage and support individuals through this pandemic and beyond. A house plant might seem like a small gift but for those benefiting from this project they can, quite literally, provide a lifeline.” sportforconfidence.com

May is ME Awareness Month and this year’s theme aims to highlight the restrictions that people living with ME/CFS live with on a daily basis. Aiming to amplify the voices of those living with ME/CFS and their carers and loved ones they are encouraging everyone to join the hashtag #yearsinlockdown on social media. They are asking people to upload their images with a sign showing how many years their lives have been affected by ME/CFS to accompany the #yearsinlockdown hashtag.

ME AWARENESS MONTH

If you work with anyone who lives with ME/CFS please encourage them to get involved, the more stories that are shared means there will be more awareness and understanding of this debilitating condition. Find out more at actionforme.org.uk.

Ground-breaking test to diagnose Parkinson’s Research inspired by Joy Milne, who discovered she had the ability to “smell Parkinson’s” following her husband’s diagnosis at the age of 45, has led to a game-changing test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Scientists at the University of Manchester have developed a technique which works by analysing compounds found in sebum, the oily substance that coats and protects the skin, and identifying changes in people with Parkinson’s. The research, funded by Parkinson’s UK, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, saw 500 people recruited, with and without Parkinson’s. Samples of sebum were taken from their upper backs for analysis. Using different mass spectrometry methods, ten chemical compounds in sebum were identified

as elevated or reduced in people with Parkinson’s. This allows scientists to distinguish people with Parkinson’s with 85% accuracy. Further analysis using high resolution mass spectrometry showed subtle but fundamental changes as the condition progresses. This means this ‘world first’ testing strategy is not only useful in diagnosing Parkinson’s, but also in monitoring the development of the condition.

extremely cost-effective because it uses existing technology that is already widely available. “We are now looking to take our findings forward to refine the test to improve accuracy even further and to take steps towards making this a test that can be used in the NHS and to develop more precise diagnostics and better treatment for this debilitating condition.”

Professor Perdita Barran, Professor of Mass Spectrometry at the University of Manchester, said: “We believe that our results are an extremely encouraging step towards tests that could be used to help diagnose and monitor Parkinson’s. “Not only is the test quick, simple and painless but it should also be

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COMMUNITY TEAMS FACING IMMENSE PRESSURE A recent Sky News story has highlighted the pressure that community healthcare teams are experiencing as an after effect of the pandemic. There has been a steep rise in the number of patients with complex health needs in the community, and the caseloads that many AHPs are managing have vastly increased. The vaccination programme has had a hugely positive effect on hospital admissions, but as these pressures stop it appears that the pressure on community teams increases. Natalie Black is a lead neuro occupational therapist who has

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spent the pandemic redeployed to support her colleagues in intensive care, and has now returned to her work in the community. She told Sky News: “We already have people waiting to be seen, and on top of that, we are dealing with a population of people who have become unwell at home - and we are trying to keep them well and at home. “We are also having to deal with really complex cases coming out of hospital. “What this means for us is that we now have a caseload of patients, who should be on inpatient wards, but actually they are out in the

community. “For us the journey has just begun, to be honest with you. “We’ve been in a state of crisis as a community team trying to support our acute colleagues. “Lots of our staff were redeployed to go in and even support just turning patients in bed to start with. “But at the same time, we’ve been working really hard to stop people going into hospital as well.... whilst also trying to facilitate getting people out of hospital. “That’s had a huge impact. We already have people waiting to be seen.”

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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

THE RIGHT TO

REHABILITATION

The term rehabilitation is being used more and more in the mainstream media due to the effects of long-COVID, and the need for ongoing and long periods of therapy input. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines rehabilitation as: “…a set of interventions designed to optimise functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment.” The aim of rehabilitation is to enable that child or adult to achieve their goals and be as independent as possible in their day-to-day activities, enabling them to engage purposefully in their life. This leads to dignity, self-confidence and provides them with quality in their life. The profile of rehabilitation has been raised over the last year; the pandemic has shown the difficulty of how we access rehabilitation for our clients, who assesses for it, who provides the interventions, and what time scales are there. We are all acutely aware that different acute and community services offer different provision, and it can be a real postcode lottery in regards to if, when and how a client or patient receives the necessary support. There is a huge group of forgotten people, who due to lockdown have lost physical function, cognitive abilities and confidence to access the community independently. These are a group of clients who are struggling to access any

we need to fight for the right to rehabilitation for all clients and patients

rehabilitation, let alone a quality service.

after an illness, deterioration in health or injury.”

A client came to us recently who had been trying to access these services. She had early stages of Alzheimers, and was cared for by her husband - who was immunosuppressed and recovering from bowel cancer surgery. She hadn’t been out the house for eight months due to fear of catching COVID. She had been referred to the reablement team after significant involvement from her GP and family.

The lead for this really should sit with a qualified professional, in my opinion, an occupational therapist, and the therapy interventions should be supported by well-trained, consistent carers with regular reviews and re-assessment of personal and therapy goals.

Her assessment was carried out over the telephone by a social care support officer, and a “package of rehab care” put in place. There was no face-to-face assessment, or even observed function via a virtual call; no goal setting, and no therapy input to create a baseline of function to be able to work towards achievable outcomes. The client was told that she would have two weeks of rehab, and then she would have to pay. This caused huge frustration, and the couple were confused when a care agency carer turned up to make dinner and help with teeth cleaning neither of which had been raised as an issue! According to the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE): “Reablement is a strengths-based, personcentred approach that promotes and maximises independence and wellbeing. It aims to ensure positive change using user-defined goals and is designed to enable people to gain, or regain, their confidence, ability, and necessary skills to live as independently as possible, especially

Reablement sits within the Care Act 2014 (section 2) legal framework of preventing, reducing or delaying the need for care and support and interventions can last anything from a week to 12 weeks and be free of charge. There is a clear duty of care within law. For this client, we advocated for statutory occupational therapyled reablement, and they are now receiving a more personalised, goal-centred service. We knew what to ask for, we could talk the same language and used the legal framework to facilitate what they needed. Not all are so lucky and fall between the gaps of provision or are provided with an inappropriate service. As a profession we need to fight for the right to rehabilitation for all clients and patients, as this is about working with them to maximise their abilities, add quality to their lives, enable them to do what they want to do, how they want to do it, and when they want to do it. The by-product of this is that it costs less to the country in the long run, as they need less support from carers and more importantly it gives them a greater quality of life. -magazine.co.uk

Advertising Feature

Unmissable CPD courses for OTs Two fascinating new online courses written by OTs for OTs have launched this year, by world-class training provider Sensory Integration Education (SIE). Here’s an overview of both courses. Feeding is one of the most complex things we require our bodies to do because it involves every sensory system integrating information about our body and the world around us. Would you know how to recognise when sensory-based issues are impacting on your client’s feeding difficulties and which strategies to advise and which to avoid?

Supporting Individuals With Feeding Difficulties: Sensory Integration in Practice - A Multidisciplinary Perspective is a 10-hour online course comprising videos, presentations, interactive quizzes, worksheets and clinical discussions between your highly experienced and engaging trainers Laura and Louisa. Laura Osman is a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Advanced Sensory Integration Therapist, Feeding Therapist and Teacher. Louisa Hargett is a Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist, Advanced Sensory

Integration Therapist, Feeding Therapist and Teacher. This course will provide you with a multidisciplinary perspective to understanding the complexity of feeding and will provide strategies that will inform therapeutic and educational planning to support children with feeding difficulties to improve their relationship with food. It is great value at £65 , is CPD Accredited and includes free Affiliate Membership to SIE. Search: bit.ly/FeedingCourse Have you ever dreamed of designing your own Ayres’ Sensory Integration (ASI) space? Ever wondered how you could make a rented room work for your SI therapy? What equipment would you need if you decided to offer mobile SI-informed therapy in schools, homes and workplaces? This new course from SIE has all the answers for you. Designing Your Own ASI Space is an online course, packed with helpful and practice advice from Moyna Talcer - a Consultant Occupational Therapist with 20 years’ clinical experience, both in NHS and private practice, and an Advanced Practitioner in Ayres' Sensory Integration. This course is a must-see if you are thinking of adding SI-informed therapy to your practice. It comprises 5 hours of content using slides with voice-over, captioned videos, worksheets, downloadable handouts and recommendations for further reading. All advice is linked back to the evidence base for ASI and maintaining fidelity for ASI interventions.

The course also includes a bonus video of an interview with Mike Brooke of Southpaw UK, who discusses the precise requirements of the different kinds of suspension equipment that are suitable for owned or hired spaces and for mobile therapists. If you want to be guided through the decision making process about designing an ASI space or a mobile ASI therapy service, then this is the course for you. Priced at only £45, it is CPD Accredited and also includes free Affiliate Membership to SIE. Search: bit.ly/ASIspace For more information on these courses, as well as SIE’s universityaccredited postgraduate SI Practitioner training, and live webinars on CPD topics, see: www.sensoryintegration.org.uk

LOG OFF, SWITCH OFF Introducing a Right to Disconnect may help support the mental health of thousands of UK workers

ast year saw almost a quarter of the UK’s workforce leaving their offices and setting up their workstations in their own homes. While working from home does have its positives - less time commuting, more time with family and so forth - downsides have emerged which have negative effects on employees’ mental health.

...we are permanently tethered to our work through technology

One of the most difficult ones to come to terms with is the lack of a work-life boundary; what was previously enforced by the act of arriving and leaving one’s office at the designated time has now become fuzzy and decayed as our workstations enter our homes. When we cannot physically leave our work to go to the place where we relax - when the place we work becomes the place we relax - our work-life balance shifts into an unhealthy territory. Not only this, but we are permanently tethered to our work through technology. Our inability to remove ourselves from the responsibilities of our work worsens as technology marches on: we are reachable 24 hours a day, seven days a week through our smartphones where we can be emailed by clients or managers, and the act of switching off our phones comes with the tremendous guilt that fosters when you feel like you’re “ignoring” your responsibilities, when in fact you are being contacted outside of your working hours. How many times have you just sent a few quick emails at dinner, answered a few calls on a day you’re off, or been contacted by management on your paid time off? A survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that the mental health of people with a poor work-life balance is negatively affected by the former: one in three are unhappy about the time they devote to work; more than 40% neglect other aspects of their life because of work; and more feel depressed, anxious and irritable. The report also found that it can impact productivity, increase stress, and make employees worry more about their work, which feeds into a vicious cycle of anxiety. The Office for National Statistics showed that almost a quarter of people in the UK (24%) are working exclusively from home, so how do we readdress the work-life balance at a time where work and life seem so incredibly out of balance? In April, the Irish government’s Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) published new guidance that gives employees the so-called “right to disconnect” - that is, the right to not work outside of their mandated hours, and not to be punished for refusing to attend to workrelated matters in the time that they are not contracted to be in work. It also gives employees a duty to respect other workers within this period, for example, by not routinely calling them for work matters outside of working hours and so forth. Ireland was not the first to guarantee the right to disconnect by law: it exists as part of the El Khomri law in France, which came into force on 1 January 2017, and similarly gives employees the right to disconnect from their working environment, which the government deemed necessary for the health of French employees. Italy introduced a similar law in the same year, as did the Philippines. In Germany, the right to disconnect is more of a cultural force than a legal guarantee: there are no laws to ensure the right to disconnect, but a multitude of large German firms, including Volkswagen and Allianz, have internally implemented the concept. Volkswagen introduced a policy in 2011 that would prevent employees from

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receiving work emails when not working. Employees will receive no work emails between the periods 30 minutes after their shift ends, and 30 minutes before their next shift begins following complaints from staff that their work-life balance was being affected by this. Similarly, Daimler, another German car manufacturer, introduced software called “Mail on Holiday” that would prevent employees from getting emails while they were on holiday to ensure that they returned to work refreshed and relaxed. Trade union Prospect has written to the British government to implement a similar law to the one recently passed in Ireland, and a poll conducted by Opinium (and commissioned by Prospect) has found that almost two-thirds of workers in the UK support the introduction of a law which would guarantee employees the right to disconnect. Prospect Research Director Andrew Pakes said: “It is clear that for millions of us, working from home has felt more like sleeping in the office, while remote technology means it is harder to fully switch off even if you work in an office most of the time. “Remote working and the use of technology are here to stay but with proper dialogue between employers and their employees, coupled with government intervention, we can make the UK a model of fair, effective and productive flexible working. “Including a Right to Disconnect in the Employment Bill would big a big step in redrawing the blurred boundary between home and work and would show that the government is serious about tackling the dark side of remote working.”

...we can make the UK a model of fair, effective and productive flexible working

Product FOCUS Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your clients

ETHOS

The Ethos from Ki Mobility offers users a smooth and steady ride. Patent-pending Isolation Technology decreases vibrations, helping reduce users back pain and fatigue while providing supreme comfort over uneven surfaces. The attractive frame design is already optimised and can be further fine-tuned for increased stability and performance. kimobility.com | sales@kimobility.com 2

ANTI-SPILL MUG

This anti-spill mug comes with a clever suction design on the bottom to keep it solid and stable on any flat, non-porous surface. The suction design stops the cup from being easily knocked over, avoiding spillages and mess. It comes in four stylish colours and holds 470ml of liquid. manageathome.co.uk | 0808 281 2492

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ICON 35 WHEELCHAIR RANGE

Rehasense UK have launched the ICON 35 lightweight aluminium wheelchair range. Weighing only 8.2kg, the ICON 35 BX is the lightest wheelchair in the range and features an ergonomic seat and back angle. The ICON 35 Lx weighs only 9.0kg, is fitted with enhanced ergonomic seating, back upholstery and adjustable arm rests. Both models can be easily folded for transport and have a maximum user weight of 125kg. rehasense.co.uk | 0333 220 0704 4

OXFORD JOURNEY

The Oxford Journey is an ultracompact, portable, folding stand aid with best-in-class functionality. Its unique adjustable cow-horn mechanism supports a wider range of patient heights and sizes, allowing your facility to have one lift that meets the needs of many. Safe working load is 155kg/24st/342lbs. joerns.co.uk | 0344 811 1158 5

WELLNESS JOURNAL

Encouraging your patients to write down thoughts, feelings, goals, achievements and the things that make them happy, can have a very therapeutic effect. This beautiful journal is designed to help individuals track their daily wellbeing, set goals and help appreciate the good things in their life. Search for ‘CherryPrinters’ on Etsy

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TIPSI TRAY

The Tipsi Tray is ideal for anyone who only has one hand available to carry things around. Perfectly designed for those with a limb difference, amputation, those who have one side affected by stroke, or anyone who needs to steady themselves with one hand whilst carrying a tray with another. The 14-inch tray has enough room for a regular plate and a drink or up to nine drinks and will transport them without spilling a drop.

activehands.com | 01564 702 255 7

EASI-GRIP KNIVES

This popular range of Easi-Grip knives feature thick, angled handles making them easier to grip than other, more conventional options on the market, perfect for those who struggle with dexterity and strength. This set of three consists of a bread knife, carving knife and a general purpose knife.

manageathome.co.uk | 0808 281 2576 8

RNIB PENFRIEND

The RNIB PenFriend enables users to record their own audio labels for a wide range of items in and around the home, at school or at work. When they need to identify the item, they simply place the PenFriend on to the label and it will play back the recording. It comes with 130 unique labels. shop.rnib.org.uk | 0303 123 9999

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Designing accessible kitchens

Kate Sheehan discusses the importance of designing a kitchen that will meet all of your client’s needs

ating is a necessity as it supports our body to function physiologically. The preparation and cooking of food supports the development of social skills, physical function, cognitive abilities and mental health wellbeing, it is therefore a purposeful and meaningful occupation. During the pandemic, cooking and baking has become a national hobby, with numerous people going back to cooking from scratch and realising the positive effects and impacts of immersing yourself in creative activities. It is an activity that is not confined to one age group as we start to learn cooking skills from a young age. Children learn about food through their senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, tasting) and teaching kitchen skills not only helps a child to learn about food but also teaches them an important life skill. An accessible kitchen is therefore of vital importance.

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Why, if it is an essential activity for physical, social and cognitive development, are there so few kitchen adaptations being recommended by occupational therapists in the statutory, private and medico legal sectors? The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and Other Adaptations – External Review, conducted by the University of the West of England in 2018 on behalf of the Ministry Housing, Communities and Local Government, compiled a breakdown of adaptations funded, there was no separate section for kitchen modifications, it may have come in the ‘extensions’ or ‘other’ sections, which was only 10% of the total budget. Why is this? The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 clearly states that funding is available for “facilitating the preparation and cooking of food by the disabled occupant”.

In the private sector, I often have to fight for kitchen adaptations as the thought is that the “care” provision can meet the need. This dismisses the wider benefits of being able to cook even the simplest of meals or of making your own hot drink when you want it and, in my opinion, impinges on the right to family life and being able to cook for yourself, your family or friends. Cost is often brought up during conversations with grant officers or fundholders and I find increasingly that there is limited and outdated knowledge in this area, on reviewing the average cost of a kitchen (with no adaptations) the range is from £3,500 – to £8,000, not including any appliances, preparation work for electrics and water or fitting costs. An adapted kitchen can range in my experience from £8,000 to £25,000 for an average-sized kitchen, including appliances. Regardless of what sector we work in, we should all be using our core occupational therapy skills to assess the needs of clients. These can differ hugely between our clients and there are three key questions that need to be asked as part of a comprehensive assessment of need. 1 What do you want to be able to achieve in your kitchen - their goals? 2 What are the barriers to you achieving your goals? 3 What changes would you make to be able to achieve your goals? This is not about creating a wish list or over-prescription, it is about working out in collaboration with your client, what they would like to be able to do, from this you can look at different options to achieve their goals.

MODIFICATION OF THE TASK This could be teaching different techniques to complete that task, rearranging the kitchen or providing or recommending assistive devices, both small, like an electric tin opener, or larger, like a height-adjustable table, which could support the successful completion of their goals. The former could be funded privately at a cost of around £15, to the latter costing circa £3,0004,000 and require funding via the local authority special equipment budget or private finance.

ADAPTATIONS During the assessment process for this type of redesign you need to make sure you are addressing the Person, Environment and Occupation (tasks) requirements of the client. The client’s abilities and measurements are key, as this information will be essential to addressing their needs, some areas to consider are strength, hand dexterity, reach, turning circle (with wheelchair or walking equipment), the height of footplates, the height of knees, and their field of vision. I will always over measure as it makes it easier to design, explain to a client why you are recommending what you are and create a specification and plan that will work and can be signed off.

BASIC ADAPTATION CHANGES For some clients the need may be for small kitchen design changes, their goal could be able to make a hot drink and light snack. To achieve this, they will need to be able to access a sink at a suitable height, a fridge potentially with drawers and a lowered worktop for preparation with a water flow edge to stop spillages on a lap or floor, to enable use by a wheelchair user or a client in a seated position and access to essential storage for crockery, cutlery and food. These required changes will need a comprehensive assessment of need, detailed written specification, and plan from the occupational therapist to make sure the client’s needs are met by the changes and the cost for these more basic changes could be around £8,000.

MAJOR CHANGES Major changes will require the existing kitchen to be removed and a new one to be designed and installed, these are usually for clients following catastrophic injuries following an accident, or those clients with neurological conditions. The client may want to continue to be able to cook for themselves and their family or have a kitchen for their child to develop their independent living skills and allow access to all essential appliances, services, storage and preparation area to be able to achieve this goal. Similarly, a comprehensive assessment of need is essential to achieve the best specification, plan and outcome, as well as working collaboratively with the client on their requirements. When it comes to costing these kitchen designs, you need to consider if an electric or manual rise and fall worktop will best meet the client’s needs - the budget for a manual option would be £20,000 and an electric £25,000. Cost should not be at the forefront of any assessment, it should be client-centred, but understanding the costs of your design enables better communication and decisionmaking. Eating is essential to life, therefore the ability to prepare and cook food is necessary and appropriate, as occupational therapists, we should be supporting access to and the use of a kitchen to advocate for our client and assisting them to maximise their independence and live life to the full.

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A day inf. . ton e r e r B Katiecurrently studyintghe

is y at Katie therap l a n n atio mpto ortha occup N f o rsity ithin a Unive role w a g in ehab follow euro r n y it un comm team.

What is your current role? I have been an assistant practitioner at a community neuro rehab team for ten years and I am also a second year OT student at the University of Northampton.

Describe a typical day... A typical day includes seeing clients that have been passed onto me by the occupational therapists for ongoing intervention; these clients have been initially assessed by myself and an occupational therapist to support whether my experience and level of competence is suitable for me to work with our clients to promote occupational engagement and participation. During my day I will see clients to complete washing and dressing practice, meal prep practice, accessing the community, social opportunities, the use of adaptive equipment with clients with a long-term neurological condition as well as contributing to in-service training and service development.

o e f i l e h t Katie n o t e r e r B We use the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) to offer a client-centred approach to work with clients to evaluate their intervention outcomes. I have taken a lead in exploring the apps and technology to support occupational therapists and our clients. I cofacilitate a fatigue management programme specifically designed for clients with multiple sclerosis put together with the support of the MS Society; on top of this we have adapted the programme to be appropriate with a range of clients with a long-term neurological condition to offer a holistic service and approach to supporting fatigue management with a variety of our client base.

What’s the hardest part of your role? The hardest thing about my role is trying to let go at the end of a working day! It’s so easy for clients to remain on your mind, to lay awake considering intervention

Each month ..

we talk to a differen occupati onal thera t pist to see wh at a typic al day is for the ma a little mo nd explain re about their role.

options and trying to be creative with therapy that is both personcentred to the client and also evidenced-based! It really helps to work with such a wonderful team at the Milton Keynes Neuro Rehab Service where I receive regular supervision, peer support and an MDT approach to our wonderful clients.

What’s the best part of your role? The best thing about my role is having the time to build up rapport with clients, to learn about them and the occupations that really bring them to life and support those individuals to be able to participate in these occupations again when societal, psychological, environment and physical factors create barriers to engagement. And all of the above is exactly why I chose to commit to university and to the practice of occupational therapy as my life aspiration.

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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Discover more about the award-winning app that has been developed for OTs

ccupational therapist Alicia Ridout and her team were recently chosen as the winners of the Technology Innovation in Occupational Therapy Award in the RCOT Annual Awards 2021, for a new app that has been designed to help OTs develop their practice. The app was launched in October 2020 and is a new web application which forms a digital clinical onboarding guide for occupational therapists - COG-OT. The last year has seen a huge uptake of digital practices across the healthcare sector and many OTs have found themselves learning new digital techniques and practices to enable them to deliver their service in new ways throughout the pandemic. The advancement of technology has allowed the occupational therapy profession to continue in more innovative ways through these difficult times and it appears that it has sparked a passion in some to develop digital services dedicated to helping the practice of OT.

...COG-OT is a vehicle to stimulate more holistic and inclusive approaches to occupational therapist assessment 26

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ABOUT COG-OT

The COG-OT app has been designed to guide OTs through an assessment process with a client. It uses a set of filter topic areas, underpinned by the Model of Human Occupation, to generate a downloadable set of questions and best practice resources that occupational therapists can use to structure and drive the assessment of a person’s care. It is context and diagnosis agnostic, and driven by holistic and inclusive principles, seeking to develop practice of the occupational therapist using it. Underpinned by the DCB0129/0160 Clinical Safety standards, the application can be accessed by both experienced occupational therapists, students and novices via an online link. It can be used to prepare for an assessment, during an assessment, and it can be used as a reflective tool also. Once you have completed your questions you then have the option to download a pdf to email to yourself or colleagues for future use.

AWARD-WINNING

The award was sponsored by Tunstall Healthcare, the UK’s leading provider of software solutions, services and technology for the telecare and telehealth markets, and they awarded Alicia and her team £1,500 worth of funding to further develop the COG-OT app. Alicia commented on winning the award: “We are so grateful for the funding which will be used for software development to code an advanced pop-up survey which will replace the current onboarding process, engage occupational therapists and enable us to collect routine insights from users. It will also facilitate co-creation of the app, allow us to invite users to online workshops and facilitate the future development roadmap ideas. “The COVID-19 pandemic has catapulted occupational therapists into a digitally driven environment, with more than a third having to learn new digital skills and two thirds now delivering services in new ways. There was already a clear gap in terms of support for applying technology in professional practice, and in the past year we have seen an unprecedented leap in implementation, in many cases without sufficient training or experience. “There is an urgent need for high quality, digital-practice development tools delivered at-pace during the pandemic and beyond, and this project aims to focus on personalised practice, through working more effectively with occupational therapists. The funding will allow us to test the current hypothesis that COG-OT is a vehicle to stimulate more holistic and inclusive approaches to occupational therapist assessment.” Dr Gillian Ward, research and development manager at RCOT emphasised how important the annual awards are in supporting members when budgets and project funding are limited: “This year we were delighted to have a new award sponsored by Tunstall that aims to support technology innovation in occupational therapy, this is especially important as many services are making greater use of technology enabled services to provide support to the people they work with during the pandemic. “The funding from Tunstall offers an opportunity to make improvements to the services that occupational therapists offer to the people they work with. Without the award funding, some of this development would not happen.” Gavin Bashar, UK managing director of Tunstall Healthcare, added: “We’re incredibly pleased to be able to provide crucial support to professionals in occupational therapy, and increase their confidence in applying technology. The Tunstall Award for Technology Innovation in Occupational Therapy is just one of the ways we are investing in technology and innovation to improve the future of health and care, and equip professionals to deliver the best possible service to users. We’re excited to see how funding supports the development of COG-OT.” You can find out more about the app at cog-ot.co.uk.

Alicia Ridout

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t uk si o. Vi s.c

Switch A simple and effective solution for assisted standing Designed to help a person with reduced mobility, stand from a seated position and enable their transfer to another surface. The Switch actively encourages the user to participate in the standing process, engaging core muscle groups while improving strength and function.

Safe working load 180kg / 28st / 397Ibs Compact and easy to manoeuvre Quickly dismantles for easy storage and transportation Simple design for easy on-going maintenance Optional knee pad cushions for extra comfort 5 Year warranty as standard

Contact Joerns Healthcare to find out more:

(T) 0344 811 1158 (E) info@joerns.co.uk

Game-changing multi-functional postural support Aqua Liberty is a revolution for supported bathing, but so much more, claims AAT

he clinical case for bathing support is established and proven, but there has been no complete solution to cover all ages and all disabilities.

No longer is that a problem. Developed in partnership with OTs and their clients, the Aqua Liberty system provides the widest possible scope for OTs to prescribe a single, easily managed and wholly adaptable system to support head, trunk, pelvis and limbs correctly in the bath and beyond. An added bonus is that it can be re-issued time and again, meeting the needs of multiple potential users.

the bath in exactly the position needed. Its design allows rapid removal for other members of the household to still enjoy the hydrotherapy and hygiene benefits of a bath. The Aqua Liberty base rolls up into a compact tube, minimising storage space. “Bath time should be at very least a pleasant experience,” says AAT’s Peter Wingrave. “Aqua Liberty makes prescription easy: the only consideration is the choice of cushion, improving the scope of options for the OT, client and carer.” AAT is so confident of the value that the British conceived, designed and developed Aqua Liberty brings, it is offering free assessments and free trials of the system. This can be arranged by calling 01978 821875, emailing sales@aatgb.com, or visiting aatgb.com/ aqua-liberty.

Aqua Liberty is the first, and only, bath system that utilises innovative vacuum beanbag technology to precisely mould without pressure to any bath, and any user, regardless of their size, shape, muscle tone and symmetry. Whilst its primary function is to provide safe yet comfortable postural support in the bath, with minimal intervention from the carer, innovatively, it brings multifunctional benefits to daily life. Uniquely, the vacuum cushions can be removed from the Aqua Liberty base for employment wherever else the client needs postural support; in a wheelchair, chair, car seat. Whether on the Aqua Liberty system or beyond, each cushion can be exactly moulded as needed by the carer (with little effort and appropriate training), for asymmetrical support, abduction and stabilisation. Thus even small changes to the client’s needs can be accommodated without expensive or lengthy remoulding. It means the client can relax and enjoy their bath, being comfortably supported without intervention from their carer. In the process it makes the experience more relaxing and less stressful for the carer too. The advanced neoprene covering of the cushions provides further sensory positive stimulation, and means that the cushions air dry quickly and can be wiped clean to COVID-safe standards. The Aqua Liberty system is quick and easy to attach to

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DLF PROASSIST The new platform designed to help healthcare professionals when prescribing independent living products

ver been overwhelmed in your search for independent living products to recommend for your patients? There are thousands of products on the market these days and it can be a struggle to know which product will be the most appropriate for your client. Research carried out in 2019 showed prescribers tend to recommend familiar products or rely on Google searches to find information and are often overwhelmed by the volume of information available from a multitude of sources. It can be difficult to sort through the wealth of information you find on the internet and narrow it down to the most reliable sources for your decision making. The DLF, in collaboration with TSA, the national body for technology enabled care (TEC) services, have created a comprehensive new hub to help users source the best solutions for their clients. DLF ProAssist has been designed to help healthcare professionals when prescribing independent living equipment. For the first time, professionals will be able to access a secure, reliable, independent and comprehensive resource where products are accompanied by clinical observations, case studies, user guides, videos and information on local suppliers. With a searchable database of over 10,000 products from more than 900 retailers, this UK-wide resource helps identify the options across a wide range of technologies, from the latest digital devices to simple aids. DLF ProAssist has been developed in collaboration with practitioners and supported by market leading TEC firm Tunstall Healthcare. It is free to use for a promotional period to allow prescribers to see the benefits of the hub to their practice. After this period, members of a range of professional bodies and national organisations – including TSA – will have free access for the period of their membership. Subscriptions are also available and DLF ProAssist can be tailored under licence to integrate with local community equipment portfolios. Thousands of users are expected to benefit from its guidance and information to support their selection of suitable solutions. Users have a login to enable a more tailored experience. After finding the information required, DLF ProAssist also enables the user to import it into a choice of templates that can be edited to suit their needs, including

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recommendations to clients and justifications. The DLF and TSA believe DLF ProAssist will become the go-to trusted reference resource. In addition to the in-depth product information, users also have access to reports, case studies and research relating to the solutions. Users and professional bodies can submit documents for publication and wider sharing, and log clinical observations about the equipment they have deployed. Over time these observations will build into a valuable bank of feedback on product effectiveness, providing the UK’s only collaborative hub of its type with shared experiences. Designed to be flexible and easy to use, DLF ProAssist will learn from users so that it prompts and highlights further solution options to provide a more holistic outcome.

Clare Barber, who manages the DLF for Professionals programme, said: “We want prescribers to have the confidence to consider recommending items from a number of product categories, combining TEC with more traditional solutions. DLF ProAssist will enable the user to quickly produce proposals, case notes and reports to support their decisions. This will be the first central national resource of its type for professionals involved in assessing for independent solutions combining impartial information and advice and shared clinical feedback.” Users can navigate the tool in a number of ways including by functional need and by simple search, focusing more on outcomes. The DLF is the first organisation to adopt an international classification

TSA believe DLF ProAssist will become the go-to trusted reference resource

system based on ISO standards for assistive technology that organises products according to functional need, an approach that occupational therapists in particular will instantly recognise. Alyson Scurfield, Chief Executive of TSA, said: “We want to encourage greater involvement and faster adoption of TEC and this new tool will enable users to confidently engage with technology that can improve people’s lives. We believe it has the potential to help raise standards at the same time as speeding up people’s access to personalised tailored solutions that are right for them.” Gavin Bashar, Managing Director UK & Ireland, Tunstall Healthcare, said: “TEC solutions will play an increasingly important role in how we support people with long term health and care needs, as well as achieving the aims of the recent Health and Social Care White Paper. Tunstall recognises the need to invest in the development of health, housing and social care professionals to help them identify solutions to support outcomes and develop a technology first approach as we move towards a more empowered and proactive approach to care.”

Thousands of users are expected to benefit from its guidance

To find out more visit dlfproassist.org, email enquiries@dlf.org.uk or call 0300 123 3084.

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Fibromyalgia and OT As we learn more about fibromyalgia, we find new ways to treat it - could occupational therapy be one?

ibromyalgia is considered to be a medically unexplained syndrome because of its poorly understood nature. This is frustrating for both the patient and caregiver: from the patient’s perspective, people may assume they are inventing the symptoms that they experience, and that they’re all made up, exaggerated, or psychosomatic. From the medical professional’s point of view, it can become a series of trials and errors to find the best way to treat patients, which can become frustrating as you just want to help your patient. Characterised by chronic pain, stiffness and tenderness of the muscles, tendons and joints without the presence of detectable inflammation, fibromyalgia is considered a syndrome with a complex series of factors, each of which can vary in their effect on the client and their daily life. Patients frequently describe what feels like aching or burning pain in their muscles, visual problems, physical and mental fatigue (the latter often called brain fog), and stiffness in the morning. A host of other symptoms can be present, including headaches, IBS, memory problems, parenthesis, hypersensitivity, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and disturbed sleep, to name but a few. Because of this,

...it can become a series of trials and errors to find the best way to treat patients, which can become frustrating as you just want to help your patient

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there is also significant likelihood that clients will present with co-morbitidies, including depression, anxiety, and rheumatoid arthritis. Living with the above symptoms sounds very much like a job for an occupational therapist, and some research has shown that assessment and intervention from an occupational therapist might provide patients with the tools they need to continue completing their ADLs and functioning independently while living with their chronic pain. A study undertaken by Poole et al in 2018 and published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy focused on a 37-year-old school teacher who was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia after experiencing pain all over her body while training for a 5k, when she was taken to hospital. It was in this setting that she met an occupational therapist who focused on establishing client-identified problems and goal setting. After evaluating her using the Canadian Occupational

Performance Measure, the pair identified aspects of Jennifer’s life that were meaningful to her: leisure, being able to complete a full day of teaching (having reduced her hours due to her condition), and being able to clean her entire house. This allowed her occupational therapist to establish a series of goals and structures to help her complete the aforementioned goals. For example, her OT advised her to plan tasks in advance, prioritise cleaning tasks, plan and organise activities, and use good posture and body mechanics throughout these tasks. Jenifer’s OT also recommended online mindfulness classes to help her cope with her chronic pain, identifying this as a significant barrier to her occupational participation; he had her demonstrate a technique to him after each session to ensure she was completing this task. Additionally, her OT established an exercise regime to help increase Jenifer’s endurance and ultimately help her enjoy her leisure time more, as well as complete a full day at work. Her OT also worked with her to identify the emotional impact of living with fibromyalgia, which also impacted her social and leisure activities, helping to implement strategies from her mindfulness course to combat anxiety that comes with feeling overwhelmed. After working with an OT, the study showed that Jennifer identified a significant decrease in the effects of her symptoms on her ability to complete ADLs; while she continued to experience the symptoms of fibromyalgia,

After working with an OT, the study showed that Jennifer identified a significant decrease in the effects of her symptoms on her ability to complete ADLs she found she was in a better position to deal with them thanks to her experience with an occupational therapist, and felt that the techniques taught to her left her better able to achieve her goals. Of course, this case study - while successful for Jennifer - is simply one case, and as the National Fibromyalgia Association note, while most see a physical therapist, comparably few people living with fibromyalgia see an OT, despite their “unique position to instruct people with fibromyalgia in management techniques that can empower them and be used for a lifetime.” The intervention of an occupational therapist, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, could help people living with fibromyalgia to better cope with their chronic pain through activity planning, goal setting, and mindfulness techniques, all of which are universal to the holistic approach of the occupational therapist.

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Comfort footbed can be removed to ﬁt an orthotic

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Automatic Pill Dispensers and Medication Reminders Our products are widely used by Health and Social Care professionals for vulnerable older people and those with learning difficulties who need to be reminded of essential daily tasks such as taking their medication. Find out more today:

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F OR MOR E I N F OR M AT ION

Product FOCUS Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your clients

GLOVETM DIAMOND DELUXE SLING

The new GLOVETM Diamond Deluxe and Deluxe Plus slings from Care and Independence boast multiple unique design elements taking user comfort and sling performance to previously unprecedented levels. A patented diamond-shaped aperture and patented pressure reducing binding-free leg sections are just two of the new features delivering enhanced user benefits. careandindependence.com 0330 128 0808 2

EMMA & ERNEST SLIPPERS

A recent introduction to the range, these ultra-roomy wrap-around slippers are the roomiest of all the Cosyfeet slippers and are specifically designed for exceptionally swollen or bandaged feet. They open right up for easy access, are very adjustable yet also provide support where needed. The flexible sole is suitable for indoor and outdoor wear. cosyfeet.com | 01458 447275

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KEYWING KEY TURNER

For any clients who struggle with hand strength and dexterity, this key turner is a great solution. It fits simply and smoothly onto individual keys and offers great grip allowing users to turn their key in the lock more easily. Available in three colours to allow keys to be colour coded for certain doors. thekeywing.com

BEDSIDE ECONORAIL

This portable bedside rail is strong and lightweight and designed to assist users in and out of bed easily. It attaches to standard beds simply and will support up to 136kg. The design is unobtrusive and it has a handy organiser pouch that will allow users to store phones, tablets and books right next to them in bed.

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PALM PEELER

This simple product is incredibly effective. Any individual who has limited hand function will benefit from the design of this peeler, transforming their experience in the kitchen. Independence in the kitchen can be so important for so many people and the ability to peel your own carrots can contribute to an individual’s self-confidence. activehands.com | 01564 702 255

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AUTOMATIC PILL DISPENSER

Medicines compliance can be particularly difficult for those with a complicated pill regime, but the use of the Pivotell® Automatic Pill Dispenser can be a significant aid in improving the user’s quality of life. Only the right dose is presented at the alarm time, enabling more independence through selfmedication. pivotell.co.uk | 01799 550979 7

PHONE HOLDER

A standard phone holder can offer many benefits to those who struggle to hold a phone for any length of time due to impairment, low strength or dexterity. It will simply clip onto the edge of any surface and the arm bends to allow users to position their phones at the most comfortable position for them, allowing calls and FaceTimes to be much more comfortable.

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HANDY BAR

Lightweight and easily stored in the glove compartment, this handy little device is strong and reliable and perfect for assisting people who may need a little extra help in transferring out of their cars. The small metal tooth fits into any car door’s bracket, providing additional leverage when leaving a vehicle.

completecareshop.co.uk 03330 160 000

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THE WASHSEAT Meet the revolutionary new portable bidet system that is transforming user’s lives

sing the toilet independently is one of the most important goals for individuals who are living with an impairment, recovering from a stroke, or experiencing any mobility problems that prevents them from wiping their bottom when using the toilet. The bathroom is a private space, and when an individual requires help from a family member or carer to undertake one of life’s most natural acts, it can cause great distress. Losing the dignity of being able to use the toilet alone can be very difficult for patients to come to terms with and this can have a very negative affect on their quality of life and their mental health. When Andy Speechley’s best friend was recovering from a stroke, he witnessed the discomfort and embarrassment his friend was experiencing at needing help to go to the toilet. Andy has been an inventor all of his life, so he set himself the task of finding a solution that would help his friend keep his dignity intact. 38

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However, following a thorough search for a simple, affordable bidet solution Andy was astounded to realise that what he seeked did not exist. The only solutions he came across were pricey and required a lot of work to be installed, there were no portable, easy-to-fit systems out there. Andy set to work to design a raised bidet system that could be installed easily, in any bathroom without plumbing, building or electrical work. His creation is now in production and is called the Washseat.

WASHSEAT This innovative new concept has disrupted the independent living aids market, by providing a personal hygiene product that can cater for millions of disabled and older people who require a raised bidet toilet seat. The beauty of the Washseat is that it can be fitted to any toilet seat in seconds, it is completely portable and

requires no plumbing or wiring. It is also the most costeffective solution available at a cost of only £299 to buy. It consists of a 4-inch raised seat with special tunnels on either side to allow for a bidet wash wand to pass through, this ensures that the wash wand can be used on either side of the toilet depending on the space available in the bathroom. There is a refillable water reservoir and battery-operated pump, a wash wand with nozzles and a start stop button to operate.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The Washseat is placed on the toilet in seconds and the water reservoir and battery-operated pump are placed at the side of the toilet. The reservoir can then be filled with warm water using the flexible water trug provided. The wash wand is then pushed through the wash wand tunnel and put in place under the user’s bottom. When ready the user can then push the start button to begin the 25 second wash, it is preset to a pressure that will provide a comfortable and effective wash. The angle of the wash can also be easily changed by adjusting the wash wand at the side of the toilet. The user can then use a small amount of toilet paper to dab dry. The stop and start button also allows users to control the wash as they require it. The gentle wash is very kind to the skin and will help avoid any faeces build up or skin breakdown. When not in use the wash wand can be pulled back into the wash wand tunnel until it is required again. The battery-operated pump will need charged up every

couple of weeks, depending on usage, and this can simply be plugged into a mains plug anywhere in the home. The fact that it is portable, transforms the user’s independence. It opens up a whole new world to people who require assistance in the bathroom. No longer will user’s worry about going on holiday, staying in hotels, attending events, because they can take the Washseat wherever they go. This product is revolutionary in improving the user’s quality of life. It will not only improve their mental and physical health, but it will also allow people to remain in the comfort of their own homes for much longer. The cost implications of carers and care homes are a vast expense that many families have to endure, but the Washseat can provide an excellent cost-effective solution that allows people to remain at home independently for as long as possible. This will also save the social care system a lot of money too. The environmental benefits of using the Washseat will also see a reduction in the use of toilet paper and wet wipes. The Washseat is also available to rent at a cost of £55 for the first trial month and £35 per month thereafter. It can be rented until it is no longer needed and then sent back to be reused once it is fully sterilised – the wash wands are non-returnable for hygiene reasons. This solution also reduces unnecessary waste in landfill. To find out more about the Washseat visit washseat.co.uk.

...the Washseat can provide an excellent cost-effective solution that allows people to remain at home independently for as long as possible www.

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Creative Therapy

rts@StAndrew’s is a network of creatives and specialists delivering arts interventions across a range of applied arts, music and media within the forensic mental healthcare setting of St Andrew’s Healthcare. The core team of seven individuals (four musicians, three artists) believe in freedom of creative activity and work inclusively to empower individuals to achieve the outcomes that matter to them working within occupational therapy frameworks. Being guided by this holistic profession also enables them to support other professions such as speech and language therapy and psychology where individual need has been identified. Meet some of the members of the creative team at Arts@StAndrew’s: 40

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Meet the team at St Andrew’s Healthcare who are transforming lives through creative activities

and limitations of the patients as their abilities and/or understanding reduce. What is the best thing about your role?

GREG FLOYD

MUSIC SPECIALIST - OT TECHNICAL INSTRUCTOR Describe a typical day… I work exclusively for neuropsychiatry at present. I find my group sessions are far more effective in the mornings, whereas individual interventions work perfectly well in the afternoons. I will usually visit two wards each morning from our dementia and Huntington’s services for a group session. On our dementia wards especially, an age-appropriate sing-along tends to get the best engagement and responsiveness, whereby I enter the ward with songsheets prepared for all, along with an acoustic guitar (usually) and a clear idea of what songs will likely get a good response from the patient group. I will often invite patients to utilise available hand percussion also, so those that wish to contribute in ways other than singing have an alternative, and of course these sessions are completely optional for the patients. My focus turns to individual interventions in the afternoon, occupied by patients from our wards specialising in brain injury rehabilitation. Individual sessions tend to be patient-led, tailored to both the goals identified on their referral from the OT for the session, and the needs and preferences they present with while in attendance, which can vary week to week – or minute by minute in some cases. Activities we can cater for in an individual session include dj-ing, music production, instrumental tuition, song-writing and, most popular, recording projects. What is the hardest thing about your role? The hardest part of my role is that I do primarily work with patients with degenerative conditions; the goal isn’t recovery as such, the goal is very often quality of life, and this takes some getting used to, especially when you have had breakthroughs with particular patients in the past that have become too unwell now to repeat the same experience the same way, with the same outcomes. A further challenge is continually considering how to best approach a session to tailor the new needs

The best thing about my role, aside from being able to utilise my own interests and passion in music on a daily basis, would be witnessing first-hand the power that music has to reach some inner-most positive memories of a patient, and how it can animate, almost ‘bring life’ to a patient that otherwise spends most of their life in a somewhat sedentary state. When I observe a change in patient behaviour or presentation as a direct result of the live music I was providing, that is what makes the role so rewarding. Live music - along with a charismatic, positive approach - can reach even the most advanced dementia patient, even if by any other measurement the engagement may seem small, relative to that patient, it can be very significant (a tapping finger, or a fixed frown turned to a smile), and I take pride in recording these successes in my clinical notes, also. I’m always very pleased to hear ward staff feed back to me that a patient responded to a live music session more positively than any other intervention offered to them all week. I’m often told it is the only session where the patients are willing to work collaboratively, or even just to share the experience with a peer, and also that it is a session that creates the biggest boost to staff morale as well, which only serves to increase quality of care on the ward even after I’ve left.

ALISON WILLIAMS

VISUAL ARTS SPECIALIST - OT TECHNICAL INSTRUCTOR Describe a typical day… A typical day for me is running patient-led visual arts sessions in applied arts and media. This involves a variety of creative subjects including sewing, printmaking, painting, leather crafts, animation and photography both within art studios or on wards. What is the hardest thing about your role? The hardest part of my role is working with many

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different complex patient needs including acquired brain injury, Huntington’s disease, dementia, psychiatric intensive care and men’s mental health. Tailoring sessions to meet the bespoke needs of the patients as well as using various occupational therapy models such as MOHO and MOCA VdT, has its challenges and risks.

large majority of assets are stored within the computer and to hand, each session is so bespoke I can often end up with a shopping list of random items that I need to locate at short notice leading to conundrums such as “where am I going to get an adventurers costume from?” or “would that squash make a decent volcano?”

What is the best thing about your role?

The best part of my job is being able to use my passion for art to inspire patients. It is incredibly rewarding to build rapports with patients and observe their enthusiasm, skill and creativity grow. It’s great to be able to share in their accomplishments whether it be a tangible piece of artwork or observing subtle positive changes in their mental health or physical abilities.

I absolutely love my job. I get to marry creative and clinical goals together, leveraging my particular talents towards enabling patients to realise their own creative expression, accompanying them on creative journeys as we problem solve towards success. Perhaps the best part of this is longitudinal as due to the nature of inpatient services I can often see individuals regularly over a long period of time, helping them grow and challenging them the right amount at each stage. It is greatly fulfilling to see people grow from facilitator-led activities to collaborative endeavours that push both our skillsets, sometimes including service design and evaluation. My office is filled with memorabilia from many previous projects that helps remind me of this. My role as arts coordinator allows me to articulate the worth of the team and support with different evidence frameworks and routes towards evaluation.

DAVID SAUNDERS

ARTS COORDINATOR, SPECIALIST OT TECHNICAL INSTRUCTOR SPECIALISING IN DIGITAL MEDIA

A typical day for me involves facilitating individual and group sessions to patients focused around digital media activities

Describe a typical day… A typical day for me involves facilitating individual and group sessions to patients focused around digital media activities spanning: graphic design and illustration, film and photography, animation and motion graphics, audio design, 3D sculpt and print, and coding. Sessions are coproduced, bespoke creative journeys that align clinical and patient goals. When sessions are completed I write a progress note for each of these and summarise with a structured report every 12 weeks. Within my arts coordinator hours I manage health and safety concerns over a suite of studios and an equipment budget for the team. I also take lead on service development, evidence and articulation. What is the hardest thing about your role? The hardest thing is possibly having enough time to keep up with the CPD needed for every developing technology (eg. coding skills), although there is definitely value in being at the same level, if not a little behind where the patient is at on occasion. Time to prepare resources for sessions can also be difficult. Although a 42

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TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY, TODAY Ideas that started off as concepts in the minds of science fiction writers are today technologies which can greatly aid the modern occupational therapist

...if you can dream it, and it’s possible within the realms of engineering, you can probably 3D print it

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hen science fiction began its monumental rise in popularity at the beginning of the 20th century, authors looked to science and dreamed where it could go from where they were standing. Imagine a time where you could have predicted that not only would the communicators from Star Trek become very real, but they’d be many times more powerful than the first wave of commercial home computers, or that the artificial intelligence that drives stories like Blade Runner (or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep) and Harlan Ellison’s most famous story I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream are now very real - and that these artificial intelligences live inside your personal Star Trek communicator! Like all of these things, 3D printing was a concept explored in science fiction long before it became a viable thing. There are references in sci-fi to 3D printing as far back as 1939 when William F Temple’s short story The 4-Sided Triangle was published in the famed Amazing Stories magazine. In the story, the protagonist, Bill, uses a 3D printer to not only reproduce art but to clone himself a wife. The author describes Bill watching as the painting is built up “atom by atom, molecule by molecule, into an exactly identical twin of the one which had felt the brush of Francis Boucher.” For anyone familiar with modern methods of 3D printing, this description will sound almost scarily similar to the most commonly used process to create items in the three-dimensional space; slowly, a head moves in any horizontal direction over a moving platform, depositing melted plastic as the platform moves up and down, creating whatever design has been fed into the computer for the required build. What’s perhaps most fascinating about 3D printing is its powerfully open-source nature; if you can dream it, and it’s possible within the realms of engineering, you can probably 3D print it. What’s more, websites like Thingverse allow you to upload and download specifications for 3D printing so that you can make what you need at home. Lampshades, a sponge holder for your sink, a knife holder in the shape of Julius Caesar, a laughing Buddha statue with the head of Yoda: truly, if you can put your mind to it, you can 3D print it.

With the ability to create specifications then quickly print these physical, tangible objects, how can this advance in technology benefit occupational therapy? 3D printing has a seemingly limitless number of applications when it comes to the creation of assistive technologies that can assist people in completing their activities of daily living. Search “assistive technology” on Thingverse and you’ll find all kinds of incredible assistive technology that can be downloaded and 3D printed completely free of charge. There are easy zippers to help people who may have issues with manual dexterity, key turners, customisable fidget spinners, cupholders for wheelchairs, bag holders that attach to the wrist, an entire mechanical brail embosser, and perhaps most impressive of all, a kinetic prosthetic hand for children. You read that right - you can download and print an entire prosthetic hand. With skills in computer-aided design (often called CAD) and access to a 3D printer, creating adaptive technology to suit the specific needs of a client has never been easier. 3D printers as a technology are now the cheapest that they have ever been too: you can pick up a mini 3D printer for less than £100, while a larger one can run you a few hundred pounds depending on its size and printer type. The technology is not as out-there as it might seem; if buying a printer is out of your reach, many technically-focused universities have access to them, so contacting them for collaboration is not outside of the question. Paul Doyle of Hereward College - a specialist college for disabled students - explained to legal advisory firm Irwin Mitchell how encouraging students to explore 3D printing has led to them creating adaptive technology that enables them, rather than being something they are simply assigned; by creating technology that fits their own needs, they are actively involved in the creation of assistive technology that is designed specifically for them, rather than simply being passively able to receive it. If the designs don’t work, they can be changed based on their own specifications. The aspect of being able to make specific adaptive technology that is in tune with a client’s needs because they were present in, and the focus of, the design is one of the most revolutionary aspects of 3D printed adaptive technology. It exists in such a way that it can fill gaps in design where no-one else has before found an appropriate solution. Video game controllers are an excellent example of this: hundreds of different 3D printed adaptations have been designed to allow disabled gamers to enjoy their hobby to the fullest, ranging from 3D printed joysticks and extenders to allow them to access the triggers on the back of the controller more easily, to an entire cradle for a Switch controller to make the console more accessible. 3D printing has become a very real solution that came straight out of the science fiction books of old that helps to fill the niche of accessible technology that is designed in harmony with the people who need it. We can only hope that flying cars are next, frankly.

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RE-ACTIVE Help disabled clients get back to their sporting communities with this list of resources and classes

As the nation begins to emerge - slowly and safely from our homes in the wake of another lockdown, many people are looking for ways to engage once again with exercise, meaning our gyms, pools and sports centres are once again full to the brim. For many people, the lifting of restrictions means getting back into the swing of activities that not only promote physical wellbeing, but positive mental health and a powerful sense of community. The lockdown has stripped many marginalised groups of their sense of community, preventing them from attending groups, clubs or opportunities that encourage them to create vital and lasting connections. With the lockdown restrictions lifting, having resources for your clients that can help them re-establish this sense of community may provide an essential lifeline.

Alongside their myriad resources are a series of fantastic home workouts, which can give wheelchair users who don’t feel quite so confident getting back out into the sporting arena perform some useful physical activities from home CEREBRAL PALSY SPORT’S CLUB FINDER CP Sport’s club finder went live in April and is making sure that people living with cerebral palsy across the country are better able to find opportunities and connect to clubs where they will be able to find a sport that suits them. The organisation cancelled all sporting events that were being conducted in person in March of 2020 and moved into a virtual space, but with lockdown lifting, they are keen to encourage people who live with cerebral palsy to re-connect with their communities and reap the social and physical benefits of exercise and play. Research from Activity Alliance showed that disabled people had been disproportionately affected by coronavirus, and twice as many disabled people felt that the pandemic negatively affected their ability to take part in sport or recreation compared to non-disabled people, which resulted in a negative impact on their physical and mental health. With almost 500 clubs having signed up to be part of CP Sport’s club finder, users will be able to choose from a deluge of sports and activities to suit their needs. cpsport.org/club-finder

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ACTIVITY ALLIANCE Activity Alliance is a great first port of call when you’re looking for sporting opportunities for disabled clients - the charity’s goal is to get disabled people active, and they’re a fantastic resource for anyone who lives with a disability but experiences barriers when trying to take part in exercise. Their inclusive gym finder is an invaluable resource, especially with gyms re-opening around the country. If a client finds themselves wanting to join the gym but not knowing where to start, the inclusive gym finder is it. Joining a gym is terrifying enough: people always seem to know exactly what they’re doing and it can feel quite unwelcoming, but with the inclusive gym finder, you get all the details you need for booking, contacting staff, and gym accreditation level under the Inclusive Fitness Initiative, which rates leisure centres and gyms based on how welcoming and accessible they are for disabled patrons. activityalliance.org.uk

WHEELPOWER In much the same lane as the Activity Alliance above, WheelPower is the premier resource for wheelchair sports and exercise. It’s a phenomenal resource for anyone looking for clubs, activities and exercise classes for wheelchair users. Alongside their myriad resources are a series of fantastic home workouts, which can give wheelchair users who don’t feel quite so confident getting back out into the sporting arena perform some useful physical activities from home. The website offers information and guides for every level - from absolute beginner to exercise pros looking for some new scenery - and advice on how to get the right sports wheelchair to suit your needs. Alongside this, they also have a similar service to CP Sport’s club finder where users can find a wheelchair sport near them to take part in. wheelpower.org.uk

FLAMINGO CHICKS Formed out of frustration at the lack of inclusive opportunities for disabled children, Katie Sparkles created Flamingo Chicks to give disabled people across the UK access to dance and performance classes. The organisation runs virtual and in-person classes; the inperson classes are, of course, dependent on restrictions and the safety of those involved, and regularly take place in SEND schools, children’s hospices, and community organisations. They frequently hold classes in Bristol, Cardiff, West Yorkshire and London, and taster classes are regularly across the UK. They have three types of regular classes: Hatching Chicks is sling bales for new mums; Flamingo Chicks is creative dance classes with sensory equipment and storytelling for 18 months to 18 years; and Flamingo Dance helps grown-ups improve mobility, confidence and coordination. flamingochicks.org

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Independence at mealtimes The crucial role an OT plays in feeding, eating and swallowing

troke survivor, Kate Allatt shares her experience with locked-in syndrome following a brainstem stroke at the age of 39 and how, with the help of her OT, she came to enjoy mealtimes again. “Imagine being able to think, feel, see and hear yet move absolutely nothing below your eyelids, for months on end. Living with locked-in syndrome felt like being buried alive. It wasn’t just swallowing difficulties I experienced; my lips, tongue and swallow were paralysed as I was fed through my stomach feed (PEG).” Whilst willing every sinew in her body back to life, Kate worked tirelessly with a team of healthcare professionals who helped facilitate her swallow and oral motor exercises twice a day. Her OT, in particular, focused on her posture during mealtimes, stressing the importance of sitting upright to eat safely. Kate’s goal was that one day she’d be able to take care of her own personal needs and feed herself with a knife and fork just like everyone else. Activities to strengthen each stage of the three phases of swallowing – oral, pharyngeal and oesophageal were regularly practiced and Kate’s diet was modified to ensure that her risk of aspiration was minimised. Evaluations of posture, tone, oral motor, oral sensory and Kate’s ability to self-feed were also conducted regularly. “My OT worked with me on my function to allow me to manage my swallowing difficulties safely. We did extensive work on my posture, which involved sitting upright in my wheelchair to strengthen my core and sitting on an air cushion for an excruciating 20 minutes at a time.” As Kate became more knowledgeable about dysphagia, she realised how important it was to sit as upright as possible when eating.

The fact that the meals are delivered directly to your door and you can pop them straight in the oven or microwave is also a massive convenience 48

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“If my trunk and core got stronger – and I tilted my chin downwards when eating – I’d be able to lose the pillows that were propping me up. It was also really important for me that my feeder was sitting at the same eye level during mealtimes, as opposed to standing up whilst I sat in my wheelchair.” “As I progressed to feeding myself, I used to eat everything with a spoon. The utensils with large rubber grips were useful for me and I always tried to eat left-handed as this was my weaker side following the stroke, so I wanted to build up the strength as much as possible.” As part of her recovery, Kate also worked in the hospital kitchen making batches of flapjacks and brownies for

her three young children. Not only did this help build her confidence with cooking back at home but, with the support of her OT, she recognised what her limitations and capabilities were. “During my recovery there was an ongoing battle between my body and mind. Mentally, I was determined to push myself to overcome my swallowing difficulties but physically, this wasn’t always possible and having my OT there to advise and give me a sense of perspective about my situation was invaluable. Lord knows the trouble I would have got myself into if I hadn’t had her there to keep me in check!” Before embarking on her hospital to home journey, Kate’s OT explored different meal options for her to consider to make mealtimes as manageable as possible. One of those options was pre-prepared ready meals. “Having tried many of the Softer Food dishes by Wiltshire Farm Foods, what’s great is that they don’t just cater to different swallowing levels – pureed, minced or soft and bite-sized – they also cater to special dietary requirements such as gluten free, vegetarian, low fat, low salt and free from. The fact that the meals are delivered directly to your door and you can pop them straight in the oven or microwave is also a massive convenience.”

The Wiltshire Farm Foods Softer Foods range ensures you and, most importantly your patient, both have complete peace of mind. Visit specialistnutrition.com for more information.

...having my OT there to advise and give me a sense of perspective about my situation was invaluable

When you’re recovering from a stroke and living with swallowing difficulties, as Kate was, the last thing you want to be concerned about is how to cook your food as well as whether or not it’s safe for your swallowing level and, additionally, whether it ticks all the nutrition boxes.

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Paralympic Brand Ambassador Wessex Lifts, providers of through-floor home lifts and platform lifts, have welcomed Sophie Carrigill as their new brand ambassador Sophie Carrigill is an accomplished wheelchair basketball player, she has been part of the GB wheelchair basketball team since 2013 winning several medals, including a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. She is currently preparing for the Tokyo Paralympic Games later this year and the Commonwealth Games taking place in Birmingham in 2022. She is also on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Sophie has also been involved in a campaign called Inspire a Generation: “The campaign launched in early 2021 to build a bigger wheelchair basketball community. Tapping into the people that want to play because we know there are so many people out there who want to get involved but are unable to because of access to facilities, access to chairs and equipment. “Our objective is to develop new fun and recreational local opportunities for individuals to engage with wheelchair basketball, ensuring increased levels of participation and to sustain sport, physical activity and an active lifestyle in the longer term.

ophie is no stranger to Wessex Lifts, following her accident in 2010 her family had a lift installed in their home and Sophie has recently moved into a new house with her boyfriend Josh, where they have installed another Wessex Lift to ensure Sophie has full access around their home.

“We are working with the local communities to raise awareness and make exercise as inclusive and accessible for everyone. I was lucky that my club was only ten minutes down the road from me. I really want everyone else to have the opportunity to play if they choose to. Not everyone aspires to be a Paralympian and that’s absolutely fine too, just get out there and have some fun. The best thing about wheelchair basketball is that it allows you to play with your able-bodied friends too. You can find out more at inspireageneration.com.” To find out more about Wessex Lifts visit wessexlifts.co.uk.

“I think having the lift will prolong the time we will be able to be here. We will grow into this house. My lift has given me the freedom of moving around my home without any restrictions. Before it was put in I was having to go up and down the stairs on my bum, which is absolutely fine, but I am very fortunate that we have created a really great relationship and Wessex have supported us to have this done. It’s been amazing! “It looks fab as well. In the eight, nine years since the other lift was put in at my old house, it looks more modern, and you can’t even hear it. If Josh ever uses it and he comes downstairs I am like “where have you come from?”

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Paediatrics All the latest from the world of paediatrics

SECTION he latest platform to spread the work of occupational therapy and raise awareness of the profession, is none other than TikTok. If you are not under the age of 20 then TikTok may be a complete enigma to you, quite understandably. However, it has emerged as an amazing way for paediatric OTs to educate the younger generation on their work and to share activity ideas and interventions.

You can read all about the OTs making their mark on the videobased social media platform on

page 55, we guarantee you will be too intrigued not to download the app and take a scroll through the myriad of OT-based videos on there.

We also take a look at the Grande vacuum posture cushion that is transforming 18-year-old Ellie Matraves day-to-day life on page 60. You will also find our usual array of kids products on page 58. If you are a paediatric OT that would like to get involved and share your work, please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing ros@2apublishing.co.uk.

Read on to find out more...

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Sunken Trampolines are the experts in providing trampoline solutions for schools, care institutions and families across the UK.

For a free consultation and site survey please contact us and we would be more than happy to help. Contact: Joel: 07801 573278 / Angus: 07765 256537 sales@sunkentrampolines.co.uk / www.sunkentrampolines.co.uk

TIKTOK FOR BEGINNERS Everyone’s talking about TikTok, a new video-based social media site, where OTs are already making their presence felt

gabriellatheot

Gabriella is an American paediatric occupational therapist, and one of the largest occupational therapy accounts on TikTok. She uses her platform as a way to give parents tips on how to help their children in the developmental stages, as well as utilising her knowledge of occupational therapy to answer questions, give quality advice and post humorous anecdotes about OT. Her videos are extremely upbeat and paediatric focused - she clearly has a love and passion for her job, and greatly enjoys sharing her skills and knowledge with her almost 170,000 followers on the platform! While her TikTok might not teach any seasoned occupational therapists anything new about their profession, her videos showcase some fun play activities that can be performed with younger clients, and her humour and joy are infectious and extremely relatable for anyone who might watch. tiktok.com/@gabriellatheot

Does TikTok frighten you a little bit? Don’t be afraid; this is a safe space. It’s the latest social media platform that’s taking over the world, but it seems to be for and by teenagers, so it can be a little disconcerting for anyone over the age of 20 when they’re confronted by the front page, where there just seems to be 40 different videos of dogs dancing to that one song from the movie Matilda. Fear not, because as with all things, occupational therapy is truly everywhere. With its reputation for being a space for younger people, paediatric OTs have found themselves in the perfect position to gift their knowledge of occupational therapy as it relates to young people in the world through the app, where you can upload videos between 15 seconds and three minutes in length. Checking out the occupational therapy tag - the same as you would on Twitter or Instagram! - you’ll find an abundance of occupational therapy content.

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tiffanychristine_otrl

notbaberuth

Tiffany’s account is a great mix of humour, occupational therapy, and patient advocacy. She uses her TikTok to answer lots of questions from student OTs, recommend adaptive technologies and fun activities that you can do with clients, and that classic brand of OT humour that you can count on to give you a good, relatable giggle at the end of a hard day. As with Gabriella, she’s American, so Tiffany’s experiences with the profession may vary ever-so-slightly from your own, but it doesn’t stop her from being a fun, relatable OT to follow. She’s recently been breaking down how viral exercises can be harmful to your body, and these are well worth a watch if you’re worried about hurting your back while doing some trendy new workouts.

Portia is a bilingual OT from the United States who posts TikToks focused on her work, advocacy as a Black LGBTQ+ woman, and humour. She regularly posts videos of herself in calls with some of her younger clients, showing techniques that she uses to improve and enrich their lives through occupational therapy, which she does in Spanish as well as English, and are fantastic to watch, especially with the amount of care, love and attention she clearly gives in each session - the highlight of which, every time, are the little “boops” that she does when performing an action. If all that isn’t enough of a reason to follow her, she made a video where her and a friend dressed as Dione and Cher respectively from Clueless, and she might as well be Stacey Dash’s daughter.

tiktok.com/@tiffanychristine

tiktok.com/@notbaberuth

heartofoccupation Run by doctor of occupational therapy Genna Espinoza, this account is probably one of the most purely OT-focused on TikTok, keeping it business-casual throughout the page. The vast majority of content posted is paediatric-focused, with videos on how Genna works with her younger clients, tips on evaluations, play and so forth, products and advice from someone who is very clearly dedicated and extremely well-versed in many aspects of their profession. This account is a fantastic follow if you’re looking for ideas on activities to do with patients, or products that could make a real difference in both your day and your client’s. tiktok.com/@heartofoccupation 56

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The Motability Scheme enables disabled people to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair without the worry of owning and running one. Parents and carers can drive on behalf of the customer. The vehicle should be used by, or for the benefit of, the disabled person.

Making life easier for disabled people

“Learning to drive and having my own car has helped tremendously. I have gained a new independence and the freedom to move around easier.” Allison

Who can join the Motability Scheme? Your patient may be able to join the Scheme if they receive one of the following: • Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). • Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). • War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS). • Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

What’s included on the Motability Scheme? Insurance Breakdown assistance Servicing and repairs Tyres and battery replacement

To find out more about the Motability Scheme visit motability.co.uk or call 0800 093 1000 (quote OT Magazine)

How Motability, the Charity can help Motability is a national charity which oversees the Motability Scheme. Motability may be able to provide charitable grants towards vehicle Advance Payments, adaptations or driving lessons to support disabled people who would otherwise be unable to afford them.

Do you have patients that could be eligible to join the Motability Scheme? Visit our website to order your free information pack

motability.org.uk/advisors or call 0800 500 3186 Motability is a Registered Charity in England and Wales (No.299745) and in Scotland (No.SC050642). Motability is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Reference No.736309). All cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs provided under the Motability Scheme are leased to customers by Motability Operations Ltd, who operate the Scheme on a contract basis for Motability. Motability Operations Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Reference No.735390).

Product FOCUS Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your younger clients

Kids

RAINBOW BUBBLE POPPER

The perfect fidget toy to keep little fingers busy when they are feeling anxious or worried. These rainbow bubble poppers are available in unicorn, hexagon or circle shapes and are a great toy to keep children focused and at ease. BiBiGifts UK on Etsy 2

TRACE AND BALANCE WOBBLE BOARD

This wobble board is designed to help your younger patients develop gross motor skills and balance. The child places their feet at either side of the board and wobbles the balls to move them along the trails, using concentration, focus and skill. tinknstink.co.uk | 01827 767 120

KALLY KIDS BODY PILLOW

The full length body pillow is designed to help children fall into a deep, comfortable sleep by taking pressure off key joints and muscles and encouraging them into a healthy sleep position. It is a great sleep companion for kids who want to fall asleep holding something and the breathable cotton jersey pillow case will keep them cool. kallysleep.com | 0207 499 6209

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IN GROUND REBOUND THERAPY TRAMPOLINES

Sunken trampolines produce the only UK-made in ground Rebound Therapy trampoline. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use it can be made to a size that suits your client as well as be made in a range of colours. Visit their website to find out more and to discover the range of options available.

sunkentrampolines.o.uk | 07765 256537 5

FOLDAWAY SWING

Kids love swings, and this cleverly designed swing can be used both in the house and out in the garden. The galvanised steel frame can be folded away easily for storage so families do not have to keep it up all the time. Swinging can be a great fun activity but also promotes a calming effect for many children too. rhinouk.com | 01270 766 660 6

TROPICAL RAINFOREST WATER TABLE

In the summer months it is great to get the kids outside, and this water play table will provide a wonderfully fun sensory experience for your younger clients. It can be enjoyed by kids of all abilities and ages, providing inclusive play opportunities with other kids or siblings. smythstoys.com

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The Grande Way to Support Transition Discover the postural benefits of AAT’s Grande vacuum posture cushion

llie Matraves is 18 years old and lives in Hertfordshire. Following a trauma at birth Ellie lives with a brain injury and physical disabilities.

The support of her therapy team, parents, support workers, and the right equipment make a huge difference to Ellie’s life and the latest aid she has been using has been rated by the family as “one of the best pieces of equipment Ellie’s ever had”. The equipment is a Grande vacuum posture cushion, supplied by AAT GB, and specified by occupational therapist Helen Robinson of Phoenix Occupational Therapy for Children, and Physiotherapist Nicki Keech of Centaur Physiotherapy, who work together to manage Ellie’s conditions, alongside other members of her multidisciplinary team. Ellie’s disabilities mean that she needs constant support and 24-hour care. She predominantly uses her foot for “manual” activities, like using her iPad, crafting, doing her make-up, nails; all the typical home-based pastimes for teenage girls. Her brain injury means it is very difficult for her to use her arms and hands for functional tasks. When using her foot to do tasks, it is easier for her to be positioned on the floor in a seated position, but it was proving difficult to find equipment to support her 60

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adequately in that position, that still enabled her to maintain any muscle tone, function independently as much as possible, and met her aesthetic sensibilities. As a result, Ellie was spending most of her day sitting in her wheelchair, making her frustrated and adversely impacting on maintenance, or improvement, of her dystonia, spasticity and levels of fatigue. She could not use a conventional beanbag as she would slide off it, and it was unable to maintain her posture due to the strength of her extension movement patterns and dystonia. Nicki has used AAT vacuum posture support cushions with other clients and felt the concept could be beneficial to Ellie. Helen agreed, and AAT supported the therapy team in assessing Ellie’s needs. Ellie had also used an AAT vacuum support cushion previously, to allow her to be seated safely on an aeroplane on a school trip abroad. Now, a Grande vacuum posture cushion has been supplied. AAT trained Ellie’s parents, Colin and Claire, and Ellie’s support worker, in the use and adjustment of the Grande, enabling them to alter the configuration to suit Ellie’s needs as they change during the day; from upright to prone and anywhere inbetween.

VACUUM POSTURE CUSHIONS AAT’s vacuum posture cushions differ from other similar systems on the market in that they are infinitely remouldable, by the carer, on site and at no additional cost. The system focuses on a beanbag which is exactly contoured as required without pressure points by moulding it to the shape needed, and then held in that shape by removal of the air inside by a pump. It means that one piece of equipment can suit various purposes, which reduces the cost of having to purchase multiple items. This is also beneficial where storage is limited.

have also been noted subjectively. She is less fatigued, and there’s been a positive impact on her behaviour as she’s not so frustrated, nor impacted so much by postural fatigue or discomfort.” Ellie’s father Colin commented: “Ellie’s had lots of pieces of equipment in her life. This is one of the best pieces of equipment she’s ever had. It’s had such a positive impact on her and the rest of the family, physically and mentally.” Find out more about AAT’s Grande vacuum posture cushions at aatgb.com/grande or discover the complete range at aatgb.com/posture-cushions.

It is quick and easy to adjust by allowing a little air back in to allow re-shaping, then applying the pump to remove the air and hold the new form. “Ellie was reluctant to get out of her chair before she had the Grande. But she didn’t have many options, it was her chair or a mat on the floor as she is very tall and her dystonic movements prevented Ellie from using conventional seating devices such as a standard bean bag,” observed Helen. Nicki added: “It is obvious that the Grande is being used all the time, not left under the bed or in a corner as previous pieces of equipment have been. Having the right equipment available to allow Ellie to have regular time out of her chair as part of her 24-hour postural management programme has already been beneficial and positive for Ellie. Improvements have been seen in her levels of fatigue, spasticity and dystonia in the short time that Ellie has had the Grande. It’s easier for her support worker to help Ellie to do her stretches, as it’s more comfortable for Ellie than lying on the floor. Improvements in her lower limb range of movement

Improvements have been seen in her levels of fatigue, spasticity and dystonia in the short time that Ellie has had the Grande

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