NeuroNote #5: Wear A Helmet!!

Kim Gorgens TedxTalk, Protecting the brain against concussion, was spirited, informative, and left me with further curiosity, and thankfully, resources, to find more information on the topic. 
My house, other than my Dad, was an all girl house. So, other than the occasional bicycling and four-wheelers, we didn't have a lot of concussion risk as far as playing goes. We weren't in rough contact sports like football (thank goodness). I always appreciated the guys out there playing because football season is so much fun, but I am so thankful I never had to be a part of the constant tackling and banging and "bell-ringing". 
Although a concussion can occur in a number of ways, I have been really interested in how they can occur through sports, the long-term effects, and what can be done to fully protect players. One day, I might have a little boy who wants to play football, and I want to be sure that I am caught up on my research and the best protective gear! Our minds are a priceless treasure, and we only get one. So, we must be vigilant in protecting them. 
Dr. Gorgens emphasized the importance of wearing a helmet....many times. She also emphasized: study up, speak up, and suit up. She gave resources in order to study up on new information and research. She encouraged the audience to speak up to legislators and coaches about restrictions, protection, and funding. Lastly, she demanded that we suit up our kids. She used her son as an example several times. Dr. Gorgens knows how drastically a person's life can be changed due to a head injury, and how protection can make such a difference. She also knows that our brains are resilient and strong, however, they are not invincible. 
Unfortunately, there are still questions without answers, and much research to be done. However, if we can put all of our brains together, we will continue to learn and adapt to new knowledge, and protect our beautiful brains. 

Gorgens, Kim. (2010). Protecting the brain against concussion. Retrieved from: https://www.ted.com/talks/kim_gorgens_protecting_the_brain_against_concussion/transcript?language=en

Rubber Band String Lights - OT Intervention for Barbara

RUBBER BAND STRING LIGHTS 

OT INTERVENTION FOR BARBARA

MATERIAL - Rubber Bands 

CLIENT - Barbara 

Her Story:

64 Years Old 

Female 

Diagnosed with MS 

(Multiple Sclerosis) in her mid-30s


She Loves:

Her Husband 

Her Son 

Volunteering with her MS Support Group

Sewing & Crafts 

Alone & With Others 

Her Problem:

Weakness

Increased Fatigue 

Recent Decline in Memory 

Lower Extremity Spasticity 

She Needs...

Minimum Assistance: Eating & Grooming 

Moderate Assistance: Upper Body Dressing, Bathing, Toilet 

Maximum Assistance: Meal Preparation, Lower Body Dressing, Transfers, Homemaking 

The Inspiration...
Wicker Ball String Lights

The OT Goal: Improving independence and safety in ADLs and iADLs.

With this intervention...to strengthen her fingers and hands. To improve coordination and grip. To show her joy in doing something she loves that will help her continue to work in her home and be independent and active!

She does NOT like boring exercises!!

Barbara will make 10 rubber band balls over the course of 2 one hour sessions to improve her strength and independence.

The Idea: Barbara loves crafts! This could be something beautiful for her home. She could paint the balls and bands any color she wants to make it prettier and unique to her!

The Purpose: To improve strength, pinch grip, & coordination in her fingers and hands.

Different widths of the bands requires different strength to stretch and manipulate them on the ball.








The end product is fun, bright, and can be hung inside or outside of her home!

NeuroNote #4: Making The Strange Familiar

Siddharthan Chandran's Ted Talk, Can the damaged brain repair itself?, was incredibly insightful, hopeful, and empowering. I was in awe of his ability to take such complex, controversial, and complicated ideas, break them down, and make them simple and easy to understand. He reminded me of Professor Lancaster by making the strange familiar. He explained the brain, current research, medical advancement, hope in stem cell research, controversial cloning, the drug creation process, a personal client case story, and how to simplify it all to encourage understanding, hope, and progress....all in 15 minutes. Even though just about everything that he talked about was over my head, daunting, and unknown to me, I felt that I was able to follow his thoughts to understand the possibility of brain repair and finding cures to devastating neurological conditions. I think it is incredibly fascinating that our body, including our brain, can repair itself. It was created to heal itself. In the brain, as Dr. Chandran mentioned, it just doesn't repair and heal itself fast enough. If we can find ways to speed the process, then there could be incredible possibility for major brain damage repair across many diseases and conditions. I am so thankful for our incredible bodies, our absolutely wondrous brains, and for people like Dr. Chandran, who have the gift and belief in hope that motivates him to tackle complex conundrums, and find ways to make life changing differences through medicine, research, and education.

Chandran, Siddharthan. (2013, July). Can the damaged brain repair itself. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/siddharthan_chandran_can_the_damaged_brain_repair_itself#t-971032

My Case Study: Allie Calhoun (Dementia)

I presented my case study on Allie Calhoun, the beautiful girl from The Notebook  book and movie written by Nicholas Sparks, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, which is a form of Dementia. We discussed her story and experience with Alzheimer's, the importance of her caregiver, who is her husband, Noah, and the things that give her joy and comfort. She is already living in a nursing home, and she is in the later stages of the disease. Her greatest goals through OT, are to find quality of life, peace, comfort, and joy. It is also incredibly important for OT to give those interventions of peace and comfort to her husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends, as well. It is an incredibly difficult experience to watch someone you love so dearly slip away. There needs to be hope, acceptance, and a space for memories to be remembered, and a peace present to help give comfort in the day to day process of Alzheimer's disease.

Case Study: Trevor Conklin (MD)

Trevor Conklin is a boy from the movie, The Fundamentals of Caring. He is 18 years old, and has been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a rare genetic disease; one of the 9 types of Muscular Dystrophy (MD). It is caused by a genetic mutation, preventing the body from producing dystrophin, which leads to muscle degeneration. He was diagnosed at the age of 3, and at that time, he lost his father's presence, as well. His mother is incredibly protective and they keep a strict schedule and routine. Trevor depends on his schedule. He loves the news, roadside attractions, pranks, waffles, sausages, and slim jims. He could benefit from OT due to a recent move from the UK to the US, with feelings of isolation and confusion. He is also at risk for depression, and needs to be educated on his disease while being encouraged to be part of social participation, and increasing independence.

Case Study: Heather Alimossy

Heather Alimossy is 19 years old, and she has been diagnosed with Huntington's disease. Her mom and brother have this disease, and it is strongly hereditary. If you have a parent as carrier, then you have a 50% chance of being diagnosed with the disease. She is a caregiver to her mom, she loves riding dirt bikes, and she is pursuing a Master's degree. Huntington's disease is characterized by deterioration of nerve cells and basal ganglia. There will be physical and cognitive deficits. Since she has experienced the effects of Huntington's in her family, and she knows she is destined to walk the same road, she is trying to fight the symptoms now! She doesn't want to wait. So, OT will work with her to battle, enjoy, and embrace each day.

NeuroNote #3: Dementia and Garden Weeds

An article was published online by Mandy Chamberlain, an occupational therapist who advocates and educates through Seniors Flourish. She has a passion for education and for providing resources for occupational therapists working with senior adults, their caregivers, and families. She believes in giving the best possible care to those we serve. 

The article was about a book by Kathryn Harrison, Weeds in Nana's Garden. This book was written from personal experience, when Kathryn's mother was diagnosed with dementia. After watching the impact the disease had on her kids, how her kids were "empowered" through education in how to care for their Nana, and through understanding the nature of the disease, she was inspired to write her book. 

It is a picture book that explains dementia and the effects it has on the life of those who are diagnosed with it. She saw that the more her kids understood, and the more they were exposed to their Nana's reality, the more confident they felt in how to care for her and love her best. 

This reminded me of my husband's grandmother. He is incredibly close to his grandparents, and his grandmother has suffered with dementia for most of his life. She is now in the final stages and her time here could end at any moment. I have only been in the family for six years, but I have come to love them very much. It is difficult to see someone you love suffer confusion and frustration, feeling like there is little you can do to help. It is also hard to watch those that they love endure the sadness and loss of the wife, mother, grandmother, and friend that they once knew. As an OT, and as a member of the family, I want to help grandmother Grace. I want to help the family members that care for her day after day, and I want to help her loving husband by her side understand the love she has for him, even though she doesn't recognize who he is. I want to feel that I can provide insight and encouragement, if nothing else. It is a difficult experience, especially for children, and I think we could all benefit from learning more about how to best care for those with dementia, and for their caregivers and family. 

F. (2016, July 08). OT's Role in Helping Kids Understand a Grandparent's Dementia. Retrieved May 16, 2017, from https://www.seniorsflourish.com/kidsanddementia/