Engaging in What Matters: Occupational Therapy Empowers Independence at the Gardens

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Engaging in What Matters: Occupational Therapy Empowers Independence at the Gardens

From right to left: Jordan and Julia, occupational therapy students from the summer of 2024.


In the summer of 2024, the Gardens, Kensington Health’s long-term care home, welcomed its first-ever occupational therapy students, Jordan and Julia, who were completing a placement as part of their program at the University of Toronto. From the moment they arrived, they worked to understand the unique needs of the Gardens.

“When we arrived, we knew it was a role-emerging placement, which means there’s no full-time occupational therapist on staff,” Julia explains. “We set out to identify gaps in care by shadowing different team members, like the music therapists, physiotherapists, and social workers.”

Jordan adds, “We had a deadline – our placement was two months long – so we really wanted to focus on areas that weren’t already covered, where occupational therapy could make an impact.”

Occupational therapists help people engage in everyday activities that are important to them, from self-care to leisure pursuits. Their patient-centred focus ensures that the person’s needs and goals are at the heart of every decision.

With the support of the Kensington team, Jordan and Julia put themselves in the shoes of residents and the care team, following daily routines and identifying where occupational therapy services could make the greatest difference. They focused on places where residents could gain more independence with the right tools and support, which would allow staff to focus on those who require more hands-on care.


Empowering Independence

Jordan and Julia identified ways in which occupational therapy could help each resident, particularly by promoting independence.

“Occupational therapy could be supporting someone to dress more independently or helping a resident re-engage with a hobby, like painting, that they enjoyed when they were younger,” Julia says. 

Example of adding tubing to a pen to improve grip.


“We get to work on things that are truly meaningful to each person, which is amazing,” Jordan adds.

One resident, who previously needed significant assistance to get dressed, was given tools like a sock aid and shoehorn. The resident was engaged and participated in learning how to use the tools and the effective ways it could be used in her dressing routine. “Jordan and Julia have inspired me to dress myself,” she says.

“I can now put on my socks without asking for help. The sock aid device is an ingenious invention.” With this newfound independence, her confidence grew, and staff were able to provide only standby support, giving her more control over her routine.


Enabling Communication

Another highlight of Jordan and Julia’s work has been their focus on improving communication for residents who struggle to express themselves verbally. They developed personalized communication boards for these residents, allowing them to communicate their needs and preferences more easily. For one resident, who could previously only respond to yes-or-no questions by looking up or down, a custom board allowed her to actively participate in her care routine and engage in activities she enjoyed. This gave her greater autonomy and made communication with staff smoother. 

 

     

Examples of customizable communication boards.


A Personal Care Attendant who helps care for her notes that the program “has changed her a lot. She has regained independence and control over her daily living.”


Supporting Long-Term Impact

Beyond their direct work with residents, Jordan and Julia took steps to create lasting improvements. They developed educational resources for staff and residents, ensuring the tools and strategies they introduced are a part of the Gardens’ ongoing care approach.

Residents have expressed their gratitude for the difference Jordan and Julia have made.

“They listened closely – not just to the obvious things but to the little details,” one resident said in a letter to the students. “They put together a care plan that truly addressed my needs. Because of occupational therapy, my quality of life has improved in ways I never expected. I feel less fatigued, my mind is more active, and I’m able to focus on things other than my physical limitations. I’m truly grateful for the difference they’ve made.”

Their placement at Kensington will make a lasting impact on the students, in return.

“Our journey at Kensington has been a huge learning experience,” Julia says. “We were able to use our full scope and really make a difference in residents’ lives. Thank you to the Gardens’ team for fully embracing having occupational therapy students and for the support to make it happen.”

Jordan added, “We’ll take these experiences with us as we move forward in our careers, knowing the impact that occupational therapy can have, especially in a long-term care setting.”

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Posted in Careers, Featured, Long-term Care on Nov 07, 2024

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