Thanks Joan. Interesting and 'colorful' advice. I've stayed away from providing her UE support, but maybe that's exactly what I need to do. She constantly states that she needs something/someone to touch with her non-cane hand. But I've told her that if this is the case, then she is not ready for the cane.
Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Joan Riches <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] Overcoming Fear During Mobility JR> Hi Ron - to be very directive: JR> In a situation where you can walk on a straight flat surface with no turns JR> or obstacles -offer her your arm on the opposite side from the one for JR> optimal use of the cane. Let her take your arm, then affectionately lay your JR> other hand over hers and hold her solidly with your forearm against your JR> side. (Close human contact and trust to deal with fear while retaining JR> physical control of self) Follow her lead for starting and pace and have her JR> simply touch the cane down at the point of stepping forward with the foot JR> closest to you so she has practice managing the cane in her hand without JR> needing to depend on it. Have her play with the cane as a walking stick, JR> walking slowly but upright with a flourish. (I hope it is an elegant, JR> fashionable, well fitted one where the point of contact with the ground is JR> directly under her hand.) After several 'happy walks' you will begin to feel JR> her hand resting more lightly on your arm and ........ well you can take it JR> from there but don't be in a hurry. Most of all - have fun. (Think about JR> escorting a duchess in to dinner) She sounds like such a great person. JR> Seems like you've moved from expert to client-centred enabler with this. JR> What a case history this would make! JR> One more thing - don't ever again talk with her about mobility and safety JR> when she is sitting down at which point her sense of her physical abilities JR> reverts to what she used to be able to do. Actually try to stop talking JR> about it at all especially in negative terms of disastrous outcomes. JR> There are a lot more recommendations I've been thinking about. This is JR> enough for now. JR> Blessings, Joan JR> -----Original Message----- JR> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf JR> Of Ron Carson JR> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 10:34 AM JR> To: OTlist JR> Subject: [OTlist] Overcoming Fear During Mobility JR> Hello All: JR> Any great suggestions for helping someone overcome fear with using a JR> cane? The patient really wants to be independent but she is scared of JR> falling. She is physically and mentally able to use the cane with only JR> occasional cueing, but she is just fearful. But, she wants to learn to JR> safely and effectively use her cane. Suggestions? I've told her that all JR> that I know to do is give her the opportunity to be successful with her JR> cane but she must internalize this success. I likened it to someone JR> learning to walk a tightrope. They are at first fearful but after proper JR> instruction and successful engagement, their fear subsides. But, not JR> everyone would be able to control their fear in such a situation. I am JR> considering that this patient will not be able to find balance between JR> confidence and fear. 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: 269.13.8/993 - Release Date: 9/6/2007 JR> 3:18 PM JR> JR> No virus found in this outgoing message. JR> Checked by AVG Free Edition. JR> Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.8/993 - Release Date: 9/6/2007 JR> 3:18 PM 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 **************************************************************************************
