Hi Ilene,
I know exactly what you mean. I work in a SNF setting and have the same
problem. A lot of the time I have found that it is difficult to find something
that is meaningful to the patient. If I ask them what is important to them, or
what activities do they like, I'll get a shrug or something like: "Oh, I just
sit in my chair, watching tv all day. I don't like to do anything." I address
what I have to in order to get the patient independent enough to discharge to
the desired location.
Audra Ray, OTR/L
--- On Sun, 11/30/08, Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [OTlist] AARGH!
To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <OTlist@OTnow.com>
Date: Sunday, November 30, 2008, 3:31 PM
Hello Ilene:
Thanks for coming "out of the closet" and posting! <smile>
I think you represent the other end of the spectrum because you work
in an environment that is not conducive to occupation based practice.
I have LIMITED SNF experience but what I had was very negative.
Basically, I refused to practice the way the SNF company wanted,
exactly what you describe, and I was fired. I say all of this because
I'm NOT the right person for giving SNF advice.
I wish I had encouraging words, but I truly think corporate greed
makes meaningful OT very, very difficult. Maybe others on the list
have more positive advice. There is just no way that you can see a
hoard of patients and provide meaningful OT. At least in my opinion
and experience
Ron
--
Ron Carson MHS, OT
----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008
To: otlist@otnow.com <otlist@otnow.com>
Subj: [OTlist] AARGH!
ocn> Hello from a long time lurker, first time poster. I am one of
ocn> those OT's being criticized for having patients play cards, stand
ocn> and fold/hang up laundry, etc for standing tolerance. I don't do
ocn> these activities because I am lazy, but am actually trying the
ocn> best I can to be functional in less-than-ideal environments and
ocn> situations. First of all, I never learned real-world OT
ocn> activities that are truly functional. In school, every case study
ocn> had two things in common; the first is that there was some hidden
ocn> passion that was just waiting to be discovered by the OT (she
ocn> used to love water painting, or something like that) the second
ocn> was that there seemed to be unlimited time in which to engage
ocn> patients, and facilities with unlimited funds and space. My
ocn> fieldwork placements were very medically oriented and did not
ocn> give me much in the way of functional treatment ideas.
ocn> So in my situation, I work in a SNF. Most of the patients we see
ocn> are long-term or live in the ALF side. We have a tiny gym, no
ocn> kitchen, no ADL suites, and limited equipment. I do a.m. ADL's as
ocn> much as I can, but can only do 1-2 in the morning (all residents
ocn> have to be in the dining room by 8). Sure, I have patients get
ocn> things from dressers and work on transfers in the gym, but the
ocn> reality is that I have 6-8 people in the gym at once (the PT and
ocn> I do not split treatment but treat everyone in the same room,
ocn> basically together). The things mentioned about take all of 15
ocn> minutes, but I have to see these patients for an hour. I always
ocn> try to find out their interests both now and before they lived in
ocn> the nursing home but it is often without much success.
ocn> I am not making excuses, rather I am asking for ideas. I am
ocn> always searching the net and journals for more functional
ocn> treatment ideas, and do not find much. On the boards, I see a lot
ocn> of "OT's shouldn't do that, we should be more
creative" but that
ocn> is easy to say without offering any solutions. I also see a lot
ocn> of "well, go to Home Health" but obviously we can't all
do that,
ocn> and I enjoy the SNF setting. What I am asking for with this post
ocn> is real-world ideas. I am hungry for them but see little offered.
ocn> Ron, how about doing a seminar? Most of the seminars offered are
ocn> medically oriented but offer few functional treatment ideas. What do
others in my situation do?
ocn> Thanks,
ocn> Ilene from Jersey
ocn> --
ocn> Options?
ocn> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com
ocn> Archive?
ocn> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
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