MorfBoard

This awesome tool has so much potential for the weakest of our patients to the strongest of our clients.  I love how it would tap into the creativity of the therapist and provide a tool that patients don’t expect.  My patients love to have new challenges and while I wouldn’t send them down the hall on the skate board, I sure could use it for range of motion in more interesting ways.

FORMcard – a product that could help us show an inventive side in home care FORMcard – a product that could help us show an inventive side in home care

When I was in physical therapy school we spent time learning how to make wrist splints and other items that are usually made by occupational therapists.  The materials were heated and shaped while malleable into forms needed to promote improved function.  This Kickstarter product reminds me of this and can be used by anyone in expression of creative genius or in repair of broken items.  I see this being used in home health care practice in situations when invention is needed to address a specific need.  People with arthritis have difficulty gripping small items. This can be used to build up keys, knobs that need to be larger, and lamp switches that are too small.  I like the bright colors as this will make it easier to see for people with difficulties with vision.

There are people in this world who just attack life in such an amazing way. As a Physical Therapist I am especially impressed with people who face their physical challenges with courage, determination – a willingness to do whatever is asked of them because they see an end that even I can’t visualize. This is an amazing man. Please watch his video.

hands free Wheelchair

https://youtu.be/MFzDaBzBlL0 – from Smarter Every Day – a cool experiment that provides insight into the difficulty of laying down a new behavior.

I have several patients that need to eat more and without the desire for food, they aren’t motivated to cook.  This means a loss of weight that is not healthy.  I have seen alarm clocks that wake you with the smell of bacon.  I would like to see “appetite trigger alarms” that would begin to fill the room with the odor of cooking food so that my patients with this problem would be prompted to seek meals.

Kickstarter is a great site to see the inventive minds at work and there are many items that can provide new ways to make the home safer for people who have mobility problems.   This item prevents dropping shampoo type bottles in the shower.  It is simple idea that can have multiple applications.

I took a class a long while back called “Power Communication for Women”.  It was an interesting class that talked about body language, taking up space at a table to establish power, keeping yourself over the eye level of others when speaking and other interesting and effective strategies.  I recognize that if these approaches work in business then there must be similar strategies for working with my patients, most of whom are elderly.  These are the things I have found to be most consistent.

1.  It is important to establish a respect for the patient’s home space.  This is done by calling and being prompt for appointments, avoiding “just walking in the house” without an invitation, acknowledging the pets and the part they play in the patient’s life, consideration for cleaning shoes when going in the home and leaving items where they were placed prior to your intervention.

2.  It is best to introduce yourself by getting down to the floor in front of them.  It is preferable of course to not sit on the floor as you may carry germs/ contaminants from home to home but getting to a lower level improves the patient’s ability to see your face.  Many of the elderly have a hard time hearing and seeing your lips helps them to comprehend what you are saying.  Saying things louder does not always improve comprehension.

3.  Respect the patient’s right to privacy but ask if they wish for you to speak with a family member or friend about their condition.

4.  Follow through with the things you say you are going to do.

5.  Explain why you are doing the exercises you are doing.  People are more likely to follow through if they understand the reason for the instruction.

6.  Avoid “disappearing” from their lives without a call or note.  There are times when a patient leaves care because they go to the hospital or they stop the services.  A note to them will give closure and leave things in a good light.  You will be welcomed back in the future if you left in good standing.

7.  Show the patient that you are washing your hands and cleaning the equipment.  Patients appreciate that you are working to protect them from germs coming from other people’s homes.

8.  Leave with grace.  Many people have poor vision.  Putting things back “exactly” where you find them, will show a sensitivity to this.  Always leave assistive devices in reach.  Offer to turn their tv back on or reset the volume.

9.  If you know they love a certain show on tv, try to avoid that time for your visit.