Life Skills
“We’re Going to Make This Place Your Home”- A post on Music Therapy
The morning after my father suddenly passed away, my mother found his iPod. There were three songs on there that we had never heard before. The lyrics to them related so well to the shocking loss, that it felt as if my dad was talking to us. I’ve always known music is used therapeutically for…
Read MoreIncorporating Laughter Therapy into Treatment
As an occupational therapist I am always trying to find innovative treatment strategies to incorporate into OT sessions. Many years ago I was introduced to the concept of “Laughter Therapy” when I worked at an inpatient neuro-care center and was inspired at this years BIAMI’s conference by something one of the guest speakers…
Read MoreYou are not alone
Who am I now? Searching for Pieces of My Former Self After a Traumatic Brain Injury By, Meg Scaling/OTRL Life Skills Community Rehabilitation & Associates, LLC You are not alone. I hear the same stories of sadness over and over again as I work with individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Stories of individuals…
Read More“If I am driving and something happens like a flat tire, I panic and don’t know what to do.”
Do you want to be more independent in the community, but you are worried that you won’t know what to do in an emergency? Low Tech: It is helpful to have a emergency protocol book located in your car. This book should include protocol worksheets giving step by step guidelines to follow in case of…
Read MoreA Story of Pain and Hope
Almost all of my clients deal with some type of pain on a regular basis. Usually the event that causes a traumatic brain injury is traumatic for the rest of the body as well. Sometimes that pain is a result of broken bones and sometimes that pain is related to the nerves. One of my…
Read More“I have a hard time getting my credit cards and license out when I am at the store because my fingers don’t work like they used too.”
Do you have a hard time picking up and grabbing small items? Try this solution: Put a small piece of clear packing tape on one side of the license or credit card. Double the tape over on itself and stick on other side of card (stick to both top edges of card so you don’t…
Read More“When I go to a new doctor they ask me what medications I am taking and I always forget.”
Do you have difficulty remembering to tell the doctor everything at an appointment. Do you feel overwhelmed when you try to remember the things you need to tell your doctor? Try this solution: Low Tech: It is helpful to create a medical notebook listing all of the following: General information: name, address, date of birth,…
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