tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82395761162564645812024-03-05T03:53:21.247-08:00Geriatric OTThere are so many topics I want to talk about related to geriatrics, occupational therapy, Alzheimer's disease and the other dementias, that I decided to start a blog. Please share any thoughts about books, current events, activities and anything else related to the promotion of healthy aging and improving the lives of elderly people with disabilities.barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-46761359329848746322013-03-29T04:56:00.002-07:002013-03-29T04:56:01.973-07:00great info here... <a href="http://www.seniorcitizenhousing.org/47-posts-of-fun-activities-for-the-elderly-who-are-young-at-heart/">http://www.seniorcitizenhousing.org/47-posts-of-fun-activities-for-the-elderly-who-are-young-at-heart/</a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-34685505258594756762012-09-04T11:53:00.001-07:002012-09-04T11:53:06.008-07:00Comment and Question from only of my Readers<br />
I recently received this email and have permission to share. I made a few suggestions but thought that other readers might have some helpful insights..... <br />
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<span>"I am an occupational therapist. I received a copy of your book "Still Giving Kisses" a couple of years ago when my mother was starting to exhibit cognitive changes and she was still living independently in senior housing with assistance from a home health aide for shopping , laundry , and showering (although at that time she was refusing to shower as she preferred to sponge bathe.</span><br /><span>She has been living in an assistive living facility for the past two years, with cognitive and functional skills greatly declining. The biggest problem is her refusing to shower and refusing to let aides assist her, therefore even sponge bathing , brushing teeth and hair are not consistent . I picked up your book which had been sitting on my shelf and read it through and was amazed at how similar my mother's life has been to yours. I could totally identify with you, your sister and your mothers situation. </span><br /><span>I loved you suggestions for cognitive stimulation (I am jewish so your specific activity ideas hit home although they can easily be adapted to any culture).</span><br /><span> I was hoping to find suggestions for improving my mother's cooperation with hygiene as that is the biggest struggle. After getting her to agree to a shower twice a week I posted a schedule in her bathroom to remind her when the aide would be in and time so the aide could point out the schedule and remind her that she agreed to it, but my mom proceeded to tear it down. She has a fear of getting water in her ears , and I have provided ear plugs, but she continues to resist. She won't allow the aide to help her with a sponge bath, but does not initiate herself. I am planning to post a simple reminder with one or two words and a picture for washing/ showering, tooth brushing , and hair brushing to see if she will initiate given this visual cue I stead of being told what to do. </span><br /><span>Do you have any suggestions? Wondering if you had to address this problem with your mom or other dementia patients.</span><br /><span>Much thanks for any additional ideas" </span>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-71871381126560278372011-12-16T11:46:00.000-08:002011-12-17T03:48:07.502-08:00I read in the Boston Globe today that some hospice care companies pay employees for referrals.<br />
<a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2011/12/16/hospice-care-has-become-industry-with-growing-issues/mp40ZHDdlLZVrLDNRSPNvN/story.html">http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2011/12/16/hospice-care-has-become-industry-with-growing-issues/mp40ZHDdlLZVrLDNRSPNvN/story.html</a><br />
Hospice care used to be chiefly a charitable cause but has become a huge industry with a base of medicare covered patients that doubled to 1.1 million from 2000 to 2009. It is supposed to be offered for patients who are expected t die within 6 months. According to this article Hospice Care of Kansas gave its salespeople a budget of $500 a month to buy lunches and gifts for doctors and nursing facility managers and staff. <br />
The article presents this as being somewhat unethical. I think that it is unethical to bribe but as far as services- it all depends on what they are. When my mom was in a nursing home with Alzheimer's disease I was not told about Hospice. I only discovered it when I saw a Rabbi running around and I asked him why he was there. I applied and my mom was suddenly given a specially trained aide who spent 2 hours a day stimulating her. In addition, the hospice nurse said that my mom no longer needed to have painful blood tests to assess her psychiatric medication. I was thrilled with these services.<br />
What I was not thrilled about was arriving one day and seeing a woman waving her arms above my mother's body while my mom was sleeping. This was during the late stages of the disease when she spent most of her time with her eyes closed and needed to be physically stimulated in order to open her eyes and interact at all. Nobody asked if I wanted Medicare to pay for Reiki (which I admit I don't know much about), but I would have said no. <br />
In the same Boston Globe today I read that President Obama will be raising the pay for home health care employees. This is very important because the people who take care of our loved ones should earn a living wage. <br />
Thank-you President Obama! <br />
<a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2011/12/16/obama-plan-raises-pay-for-home-health-care-employees/0SR41FARJHRCua4OC0QhMN/story.html">http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2011/12/16/obama-plan-raises-pay-for-home-health-care-employees/0SR41FARJHRCua4OC0QhMN/story.html</a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-88314307709688159812011-09-06T05:15:00.000-07:002011-09-06T05:15:45.604-07:00Glen Campbell Good Bye TourI am kind of dating myself when I say I that grew up with Glen Campbell on TV. I preferred rock and roll at the time but I am a big fan of his now that he has shared facing his Alzheimer's diagnosis with public.<br />
<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/okCNGh0Wmxs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-58251460089582338762011-07-29T04:44:00.000-07:002011-07-29T04:45:16.770-07:00Life, Scrambled by DementaBoston Globe article describes virtual tour so that caregivers experience simulated sensory losses to better understand dementia.<br />
<a href="http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-28/news/29825414_1_dementia-patients-brightview-facility-dementia-residents">http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-28/news/29825414_1_dementia-patients-brightview-facility-dementia-residents </a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-20564216928116566292011-07-21T07:32:00.001-07:002011-07-21T07:32:51.708-07:00<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TAm893Yeyz0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-52762146326913345282011-07-01T07:47:00.000-07:002011-07-01T07:49:56.164-07:00Elders not told of risks in hip studyWow, this is an interesting article in the Boston Globe. I don't understand what the purpose of the research was and who funded it. Are the companies that make the underwear looking for a cheaper way to make them with padding on only one side? Who gave permission to be in the study-family members or the nursing homes. Did the nursing homes get financial reimbursement for involvement in the study or free underwear? Basically, I am asking why did the family or staff agree to this study in the first place? Is the study supposed to be comparing use of underwear with padding on one side vs. padding on both sides or are they comparing use of underwear with padding on one side vs. no padding at all? Why would the nursing home staff want to be involved in this in the first place if previous research indicated that underwear with padding on both sides was effective! I think that the authors of this article are just as confused as myself since they seemed to have difficulty getting information from the researchers. but since our tax monies pay for nursing home care we all deserve an explanation from a financial as well as humanitarian vantage....<br />
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<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/07/01/elders_not_told_of_risks_in_hip_study_us_alleges/">http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/07/01/elders_not_told_of_risks_in_hip_study_us_alleges/</a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-63782086424268377182011-04-15T12:18:00.000-07:002011-04-15T12:18:11.552-07:00Color Coding the Calendar<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_164hO5ewjlRLikdXnvcQo4zKJ_MHxzIRArCPJXM1EDQcGuA5KWoWtQVnJsekJK3LUAW6PynXjYBbsyk7N35UZ95jrQTAFXetF-pP-5efcEMLnefJrG9qVsb_5vTwu_LGCNhit3vRQU/s1600/beverly+coa+senior+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_164hO5ewjlRLikdXnvcQo4zKJ_MHxzIRArCPJXM1EDQcGuA5KWoWtQVnJsekJK3LUAW6PynXjYBbsyk7N35UZ95jrQTAFXetF-pP-5efcEMLnefJrG9qVsb_5vTwu_LGCNhit3vRQU/s1600/beverly+coa+senior+small.jpg" /></a></div>I gave a presentation about low vision at a Council of Aging and a woman with macular degeneration showed me how she color coded her large print calendar. Yellow stickers are on days when she has medical appointments. <br />
I thought this was very clever!barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-67199460469029965312011-04-02T14:22:00.000-07:002011-04-02T14:22:57.922-07:00Hamilton Wenham Aging Info ExpoLots of networking and information sharing at the Hamilton Wenham Aging Info Expo where I had a booth with information on my low vision business and ADL adaptive equipment for seniors.Visitors loved my trash bag knitting demo and wanted to see how my needle threading gadget worked. I guess I should have bought some to resell because so many people were disappointed I wasn't selling anything. I did give out the 10 page informational packet I put together on lighting needs of the elderly and those with low vision. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5O6Up9elnSoqE5K4aet00g2ljjkfPmNhiCTahmH1A6JkmstMj35_SgWUDu5xX_RScO-TBDo_TLTh4V7zeX1Z5phzGuxqfyK97cgkshNX2Urb-gT_M1OpXHL7QU1cEvLYBafqJHrrJ0g/s1600/aging+expo+with+Barb+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5O6Up9elnSoqE5K4aet00g2ljjkfPmNhiCTahmH1A6JkmstMj35_SgWUDu5xX_RScO-TBDo_TLTh4V7zeX1Z5phzGuxqfyK97cgkshNX2Urb-gT_M1OpXHL7QU1cEvLYBafqJHrrJ0g/s320/aging+expo+with+Barb+smaller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillMypD0FmLrtLnrCGegwEv-2X3z-icDguW3VDf1izDcCX1uLwTl33yfPLwUwmQ0TeZGkKr1XOgBlr6qVYQ-47eFmU6P27o4RoWEW4WVwQridPSUexNL-Xewhv6eRmdAaEqGjjtsCXSgM/s1600/table+two+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillMypD0FmLrtLnrCGegwEv-2X3z-icDguW3VDf1izDcCX1uLwTl33yfPLwUwmQ0TeZGkKr1XOgBlr6qVYQ-47eFmU6P27o4RoWEW4WVwQridPSUexNL-Xewhv6eRmdAaEqGjjtsCXSgM/s320/table+two+smaller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40yrgsb4t-auVY3aF2i5_WHcOBR6150jA9nTf4ZdhskvnBVA9yC5wuepzvZicFWzmlPRUUfl45i5cPQXYeaTyDdkB-oHpmCyAlG4lYwHW6LxMnZ1MWREnxEUi7UOyCBEZn0tILTEpfXM/s1600/closeup+of+table+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40yrgsb4t-auVY3aF2i5_WHcOBR6150jA9nTf4ZdhskvnBVA9yC5wuepzvZicFWzmlPRUUfl45i5cPQXYeaTyDdkB-oHpmCyAlG4lYwHW6LxMnZ1MWREnxEUi7UOyCBEZn0tILTEpfXM/s320/closeup+of+table+smaller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-35517122236611345672011-03-31T06:49:00.000-07:002011-03-31T06:49:32.276-07:00Mural in Assisted Living Facility<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2011/03/31/mural_shows_residents_of_billerica_alzheimers_facility_their_lives/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today%27s+paper+A+to+Z">Biographical Mural lets Alzheimer's patients see their lives....</a><br />
A nice article about how to stimulate residents with meaningful pictures and information about their lives.barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-90965441117321697642010-12-28T13:55:00.001-08:002010-12-28T13:55:41.575-08:00A Great book Review!I appreciate this book review!<br />
<a href="http://springarborliving.com/_blog/Spring_Arbor_Living_Blog/post/Another_Quality_Book_Still_Giving_Kisses/">http://springarborliving.com/_blog/Spring_Arbor_Living_Blog/post/Another_Quality_Book_Still_Giving_Kisses/</a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-75541250984362485032010-12-07T11:29:00.000-08:002010-12-07T15:32:04.469-08:00Unlock the MemoriesCheck out the <a href="http://www.unlockthememories.com/Long_Term_Care.html">Unlock the Memories</a> DVD's that use music, photographs, narration and graphics to help individuals with memory loss reminisce-generating discussion topics for activity directors and families.barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-2358235771648372052010-11-21T13:41:00.000-08:002010-11-21T13:41:11.208-08:00Low Vision Occupational Therapy<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmWC0Zewqcs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmWC0Zewqcs</a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-89744090907562983772010-10-19T03:23:00.001-07:002010-10-21T03:09:59.778-07:00Interesting Products for Patients with DementiI think that these look like pretty useful and good quality products for stimulating individuals with memory loss.......<br />
<a href="http://www.mind-start.com/products.htm">http://www.mind-start.com/products.htm</a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-30402307649697396152010-09-23T05:10:00.000-07:002010-09-23T05:10:18.862-07:00If Disney Ran Your HospitalOccupational therapist, Iris Kimberg discusses how all health care administrators and providers should improve hospital stays by fostering the best behavior in staff and best emotional experience for patients. She recommends learning how by reading "If Disney Ran Your Hospital: 9 1/2 things You Would Do Differently" by Fred Lee. One premise of the book is that quality service- a pillar of the Disney experience can apply to a hospital setting. Read more at: <a href="http://occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Archives/Article-Archives/If-Disney-Ran-Your-Hospital.aspx">http://occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Archives/Article-Archives/If-Disney-Ran-Your-Hospital.aspx</a><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=barbarasmitho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0974386014&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-34985162946984674872010-08-15T05:41:00.000-07:002010-08-15T05:41:13.155-07:00This is priceless....<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mr8KrF8vNPM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mr8KrF8vNPM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-61115321507538174862010-07-19T04:51:00.000-07:002010-07-19T04:51:24.769-07:00Re-creative ResourcesCheck out this resource site for activity professionals:<br />
<a href="http://www.recreativeresources.com/index.htm">Re-creative Resources</a><br />
They provide training, books, forms, articles, activity ideas and job listings for activity professionals who work with the geriatric population.barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-66641957342762617392010-06-29T09:02:00.000-07:002010-06-29T09:02:05.429-07:00<a href="http://www.brighthub.com/parenting/eldercare/articles/75819.aspx">Choosing Nursing Home Care</a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-68885534081224613752010-06-16T13:13:00.001-07:002010-06-16T13:13:47.207-07:00I look forward to speaking ata low vision support group at the Wenham Council on Aging on Monday.barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-67899197962539693332010-05-31T08:06:00.001-07:002010-05-31T08:06:44.320-07:00The Effects Of Macular Degeneration | LIVESTRONG.COM<div style='width: 300px; max-height: 234px; padding: 8px; margin: 0 auto auto 2px; overflow-y: auto;'><div style='float: right; width: 113px; height: 100px; padding: 0; margin: 0;'><a href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/200eb8d2-6cc6-11df-a589-c75400000000'><img src='http://share-server.com/view/post/200eb8d2-6cc6-11df-a589-c75400000000'/></a></div><div style='font: 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 0 0;'>The Effects Of Macular Degeneration. Macular degeneration MD causes deterioration of central vision. There are two types of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Vision loss may be gradual with the dry form of age-rela...</div><div style='font: 11px Tahoma;padding: 0; margin: 8px 0;'><a style='color: #005cff;' href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/200eb8d2-6cc6-11df-a589-c75400000000'>View >></a></div></div>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-25620192908312107402010-05-26T14:26:00.000-07:002010-05-26T14:26:27.733-07:00Living Life to Its fullestThe American Occupational Therapist Association has just published a collection of essays including mine where I share a bit about my experience helping my mother during her time with Alzheimer's disease while as the same time being a mother to an adolescent with a disability .<br />
<a href="http://www1.aota.org/shop_aota/prodview.aspx?TYPE=D&PID=980&SKU=1254 ">http://www1.aota.org/shop_aota/prodview.aspx?TYPE=D&PID=980&SKU=1254 </a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-81768028687092742322010-05-18T13:40:00.001-07:002010-05-18T13:40:18.370-07:00Eye Diseases That Cause You To Lose Peripheral Vision | LIVESTRONG.COM<div style='width: 300px; max-height: 234px; padding: 8px; margin: 0 auto auto 2px; overflow-y: auto;'><div style='float: right; width: 113px; height: 100px; padding: 0; margin: 0;'><a href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/91cf544e-62bd-11df-6982-c75400000000'><img src='http://share-server.com/view/post/91cf544e-62bd-11df-6982-c75400000000'/></a></div><div style='font: bold 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 8px 0;'>"These are eye diseases that affect people of all ages. But during the work I do as a low vision occupational therapist I primarily see older people.<br />GeriatricOT.com"</div><div style='font: 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 0 0;'>Eye Diseases That Cause You To Lose Peripheral Vision. Peripheral vision is the part of the visual field used when looking out of the side of the eye. Eye diseases that destroy peripheral vision include glaucoma, which usually affects...</div><div style='font: 11px Tahoma;padding: 0; margin: 8px 0;'><a style='color: #005cff;' href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/91cf544e-62bd-11df-6982-c75400000000'>View >></a></div></div>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-87483500706561911962010-05-17T16:22:00.001-07:002010-05-17T16:22:51.259-07:00Products For The Vision Impaired | LIVESTRONG.COM<div style='width: 300px; max-height: 234px; padding: 8px; margin: 0 auto auto 2px; overflow-y: auto;'><div style='float: right; width: 113px; height: 100px; padding: 0; margin: 0;'><a href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/1cc22b66-620b-11df-96b0-d9552f04950f'><img src='http://share-server.com/view/post/1cc22b66-620b-11df-96b0-d9552f04950f'/></a></div><div style='font: bold 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 8px 0;'>"Here are the products I frequently demonstrate during low vision occupational therapy home visits..... "</div><div style='font: 12px Tahoma; color: #2f2f2f; padding: 0; margin: 0 123px 0 0;'>Products For The Vision Impaired. Products for the visually impaired can make a huge difference in the life of someone with mild or severe vision loss. Some products, such as weak magnifiers and special lamps, are...</div><div style='font: 11px Tahoma;padding: 0; margin: 8px 0;'><a style='color: #005cff;' href='http://www.share-server.com/view/content/1cc22b66-620b-11df-96b0-d9552f04950f'>View >></a></div></div>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-16629632295473961212010-05-07T14:34:00.000-07:002010-05-07T14:34:48.579-07:00Assisted Living DirectoryHere's a helpful directory I came across if one needs info on assisted living facilities. Scroll down a ways and you will find some great resource links on topics related to alzheimers. <a href="http://www.assisted-living-directory.com/">http://www.assisted-living-directory.com/</a><br />
As an OT most interested in activities- I liked this one about memory boxes the best! <a href="http://www.assisted-living-directory.com/content/memory-boxes.cfm">http://www.assisted-living-directory.com/content/memory-boxes.cfm</a>barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8239576116256464581.post-9050331907512371432010-05-05T14:36:00.000-07:002010-05-05T14:39:43.659-07:00Alzheimer's Association Conference<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5s1pvQ_NqPux_O-HqD9CdI5p_-nhOCqDsfIxQKlRTJCWcBrtHK9l6myEP2S-RMalXhelE5QhDx9ZOknVDKaYUNKrxGCNn71IwsC607m1tXx3_N82rz5mU3-R1UFTv1XzVpSrj__ULLE/s1600/AD+conference+2010+cropped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5s1pvQ_NqPux_O-HqD9CdI5p_-nhOCqDsfIxQKlRTJCWcBrtHK9l6myEP2S-RMalXhelE5QhDx9ZOknVDKaYUNKrxGCNn71IwsC607m1tXx3_N82rz5mU3-R1UFTv1XzVpSrj__ULLE/s320/AD+conference+2010+cropped.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>My presentation at the Massachusetts Alzheimer's Association conference went very well. My topic was on adapting the home and activities for patients with AD. There were 14 presentations at each of the three sessions, so there were a LOT of people there, mostly health care professionals.<br />
I really enjoyed hearing Claire McClain, an activities director at Cooperative Elder Services describe some of the creative activities that she does with her residents. I also learned a new trick - using Gold Fish as bingo markers just in case they get eaten (actually an attendee told me about that one).<br />
I learned how to make your own puzzles by finding a meaningful picture, gluing it to colored paper, cutting out the pieces and then covering them with clear contact paper or laminating them. If all the pieces to one puzzle have the same color paper on the bottom it will be easy to keep them together in a set.<br />
I liked the magazine picture scavenger hunt and poetry created by writing a person's name in a vertical column and then coming up with adjectives to describe that person using words that begin with the letters in the name. But my favorite activity was making sand art by rolling sidewalk chalk over salt in order to create inexpensive colorful "sand". Then the sand art bottles are made the usual way.barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212585420324513813noreply@blogger.com0