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There is a popular belief that it is important to address clutter reduction and aspire to minimalism. For someone with memory loss, this can be very disorienting. Visual cues in the form of trinkets, souvenirs, clippings, and the like can serve as anchors to our past and tell us a story about who we are. We must not discount the power of a little visual clutter for someone who keeps deep sentimental value in retaining these objects. There is a balance that needs to be achieve

I have mentored a few students and new staff members through the course of my life in homecare. Meetings with my students and staff went smoothly when we both knew what to expect. The case examples we discussed were excellent, but could be tough to come up with on the spot. I developed a four-point subject mnemonic to help us along. I referred to it as the BODY of our work. B: Boundaries are a key component of our feelings of safety as we go along our therapeutic process wit

When I began in home care, I had my fair share of oh-no! moments. Whether it was not having enough water, the need to run to the bathroom unexpectedly between clients, or the stuff I forgot that I should not have. I learned a lot over the course of 12 years on the road. I want to share with you the things I have done to ensure my sanity while I work. Here are the bring-along items and reminders I maintain for my work on the road: A good cooler: I definitely looked into having

As an Occupational Therapist, we have a role to play in evaluating and rehabilitating instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). What are IADLs? These are tasks that enable us to live independently, such as home management tasks like cooking, cleaning, doing groceries, and shopping. It is also our ability to cope with decision-making in our financial affairs. This is a key area of independence that can change if our cognitive abilities are affected by an accident, menta

I have finished editing the first draft of my first book. It is an incredible accomplishment that I am immensely proud of. I have opportunities that lie before me. There are challenges ahead of me and, surely, a few roadblocks. But the experience has been better than I could have ever imagined. In writing, I have done what I never thought possible. I have pieced together a narrative that is my own life. A narrative that I can truly call my own. Life changes and trauma can fra

In the media, we are seeing extensive coverage of what is being characterized as a new phenomenon of parental and family estrangement. There are many reasons why someone chooses to pursue estrangement. It requires an active decision-making process and is not passive. Some may see it as avoidance. It involves establishing and holding firm boundaries. It can mean dismantling a social network that may have supported that person throughout their lives. It can create extreme vulne

To fellow health professionals, Over the course of working in community care, I have seen the ravages of addiction. The substance itself damages the body, mind, and spirit when misused or accompanied by adverse experiences. There are negative impacts on the family and the social environment. Often, these impacts are felt through events that transpired while under the influence of a substance or while experiencing withdrawal from those substances. Financial resources are also

In my experience with individuals battling mental health issues, I have noticed a symptom that often goes undiscussed. The issue is poorly managed by medications alone. Perhaps this is why we hear less about it. And it may not be adequately addressed by talk-therapy approaches alone. Anhedonia is the decreased ability to feel pleasure. Experiencing pleasure is a vital component of engaging in our interests, hobbies, and maintaining curiosity. We can also lose out on pleasure

I wanted to share my enthusiasm for the campaign started by the Canadian Association for Occupational Therapists to advocate for compensation for students during their placements. These placements last several weeks and by the last placement, most activities they perform have to be at the level of a competent entry-level Occupational Therapist. It begs the question of why this work would be unpaid and, in fact, require that students continue to pay the post-secondary institut

These articles highlight the need for expectant mom's to grieve pregnancy loss. This takes time. It should be done without fear of losing employment. Ontario has recognized miscarriage as a disability. You should ask your employer whether you have access to dedicated leave in the event of a miscarriage. Your human resources department should have a policy. Here are links to the articles: https://petermcsherry.ca/miscarriage-considered-disability/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/cana

I came across this article today and wanted to share it to explore the impact the climate crisis is having on our collective mental health. See the article at: https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/article/how-common-is-severe-climate-change-anxiety-in-canada-study-offers-a-glimpse/ I have been blessed to spend many years living in a rural environment surrounded by nature. I moved from Toronto to Bancroft, Ontario when I was 10 years old. I grew accustomed to being s