She sounds like a spunky lady. I would continue to give her the same message/concerns and hopefully- it would eventually sink in. I am sure you tried a little humor with her saying she is too attached to her house that she has to touch everything;-)
Brainstorming..... Will she open to having you re arrange her living situation? Remove furniture, door, she doesn't need, etc. Would she be open to using grab bars along side the wall instead of using doorknobs, cabinet, drawer, etc? Trying to remember what is in home depot/lowes stores that could be used to help ...you could change the knobs for the door and cabinet knobs. Good luck.... Laura Obara, OTR/L Occupational Therapy Chicago Read Mental Health Center 4200 North Oak Park Avenue Chicago, IL 60634 773.794.3759 TTY 773.794.3760voice/tty 773.794.3772 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9/4/2007 11:42 AM >>> Joan, I should have mentioned that she does have new learning issues. But this is not a learning issue. She is very smart and very set in her ways. If things don't make sense she won't do them. And I respect that about her! Like I said, she is a good friend and I know he well. She will only NOT use furniture if it makes sense to her. Does that make sense? <smile> Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Joan Riches <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] Functional Mobility Training JR> Hi Ron JR> Do the ACLS. This description screams cognitive deficit to me massively JR> complicated by physical disability. I would venture a guess based on your JR> description but I don't want to set you up. Joan JR> -----Original Message----- JR> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf JR> Of Ron Carson JR> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 9:38 AM JR> To: OTlist JR> Subject: [OTlist] Functional Mobility Training JR> Hello All: JR> I've been working with a geriatric friend/patient who is asking me a JR> question that I can not convincingly answer. JR> This 90 y/o patient is about 6 years s/p CVA with residual visual / JR> balance deficits. She has fallen twice this year fracturin both hips. JR> She previously walked without any AD put had difficulty with balance. JR> She is very determined to return to functional mobility with a cane. She JR> has progressed from a 4-wheel walker (which is unsafe because she used JR> it incorrectly (very impulsive)) to a cane. But needs additional JR> mobility training. Here's the problem. JR> When she walks, she continually grabs doorways, handles, cabinets, etc. JR> She does NOT need these but feels more stable with them. I have stressed JR> that she needs to be consistent with her mobility and walk in the same JR> manner. But she asks me "why not use them if they are there"? JR> I need help trying to explain to her that it's best if she not rely on JR> cabinets, doorways, etc for mobility. But I can't provide a satisfactory JR> answer as to why? JR> Any suggestions? JR> Thanks, JR> Ron JR> -- JR> "... as a profession that offers unique services that are ideally suited JR> to meet the health, participation, and quality of life needs of people JR> of all ages, occupational therapy is well-positioned to succeed and JR> flourish in the 21st century." [Fred Somers, AJOT, April, 2005, p. 127] JR> "The part of convalescence that I found most profoundly humiliating and JR> depressing was [OT]... I was reduced to playing with brightly colored JR> plastic letters ... like a three-year-old..." [AJOT, April, 2005, p. JR> 231] JR> -- JR> Options? JR> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com JR> Archive? JR> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] JR> **************************************************************************** JR> ********** JR> Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs JR> Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. JR> www.otdegree.com/otn JR> **************************************************************************** JR> ********** JR> No virus found in this incoming message. JR> Checked by AVG Free Edition. JR> Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.5/988 - Release Date: 9/4/2007 JR> 9:14 AM JR> JR> No virus found in this outgoing message. JR> Checked by AVG Free Edition. JR> Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.5/988 - Release Date: 9/4/2007 JR> 9:14 AM JR> -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn ************************************************************************************** -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
