TBI
Planning for Spring Cleaning
It is that time of the year again and everyone is talking about spring cleaning. Maybe you have binge watched the entire “Tidying Up” series on Netflix, have seen garage sales signs posted around town, or are just itching to clean up your house. But, spring cleaning with a brain injury can feel overwhelming. You…
Read MoreAphasia Awareness Month
June is Aphasia Awareness Month. If you’re wondering “What in the world is aphasia?”, you’re not alone! Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that affects a person’s ability to use and understand language. And even though there are approximately 2 million people living with aphasia in the United States, most people aren’t aware of this…
Read MoreCell Phone Organization
Over our many years of providing therapy for brain injury survivors, we have learned that organization is a great tool to compensate for decreased memory. Did you know that organization can extend to your cell phone? Here are are few tips for organizing your cell phone to increase your ability to use it as a…
Read More“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“I am overwhelmed with grocery shopping, it takes too long and I can’t find what I need. It takes me 4 hours to shop!”
Do you have difficulty with grocery shopping? Try this solution: Low tech: Create aisle specific grocery list for the most frequent store where you shop. For example, if you shop at Kroger and Target the most, go to those stores and make a specific list of what the you buy there. Then, take the list…
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 More“Takes too long to shower because I forget what I have washed”
Do you have difficulty with tasks like showering? Try this solution: Create a waterproof magnetic laminate board in shower and create a list of your shower routine. Have someone help you and list your exact washing routine step by step. Type, laminate, and put this in the shower. Use a magnet and move it down…
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…
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