I don't want to be a bother

As we age our bodies don’t function with the same ease they once did. This can be a slow and insidious process or a sudden shock after an accident or illness.  Over time we start finding some things aren’t as easy to do as they used to be, like: 

• turning on taps 
• getting out of chairs or cars
• pulling plugs out of the wall 
• lifting jugs and opening cans
• getting out and about
• showering and dressing
• cooking or swallowing
• gardening and cleaning
• hearing the phone or doorbell

 
Many of us stop doing things because it’s too hard and having to ask others to do or help with these tasks can be frustrating, inconvenient and embarrassing. 
 
Many of us don’t want to ask for help as we ‘don’t want to be a bother’and we leave seeking help until we get into difficulty. We may struggle alone at home with little knowledge of the help available to assist our independence.
 
Feeling as if you are relying on family can make you feel like a burden and we want time with family to be precious and enjoyable, not a chore. You don’t have to struggle alone professional advice is available to help you maintain your freedom and avoid an unnecessary crisis. 

                           key turner                                              tap turner                                     electric plug puller

If you, or anyone you know, is struggling to maintain their independence and confidence Therapy Professionals friendly therapists can help to make life easier.  They will suggest adapting your home or lifestyle, recommending alternative ways of doing things or giving tips on useful gadgets and equipment. 
 
You don’t have to struggle alone, we can help, we come to you.
 
Just contact us at 
 
            Therapy Professionals Ltd
            PO Box 7807, Christchurch
            
            Phone:          03 377 5280                Email:     [email protected]
            
            Website:        www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz

Building or Refurbishing your Buildings - 
​Advice for Residential Facilities

Keeping your clients and staff safe, keeps your business safe.
 
Planning for a safe, workable environment is cost effective.
 
Getting the design or redesign of your building wrong can cost a lot in:

• fixing the mistakes
• potential Staff injury
• inefficient working spaces
• disruption to your business while the problem is fixed 

 
It is more cost effective to get your building future proofed while under construction. Our Therapists have seen some very expensive mistakes made over the years and recommend you consider the following:

• Have the bedrooms large enough for two people to work on both side of the beds
• Use lino floor coverings for ease of moving people and equipment.  If you have carpet, ensure it’s low pile.
• Have extra wide internal doors so equipment can be moved easily
• Have enough space between chairs, and other furniture in lounges, bedrooms, bathrooms, and the dining room for two people to assist a resident on both sides
• Put overhead hoists in all areas
• Have wet area bathrooms with non slip floor surfaces
• Have direct seamless access into the building (not stairs)
• Have storage spaces for equipment close to where the equipment is needed 
• Have hallways wide enough to manoeuvre equipment into and out of rooms with ease.
• plan for an increasing number of larger residents

 
Architects, project managers and building companies are great at the big picture of a building, however they don’t understand the complexities of the work you do.

Handwriting is Crucial for Development
 
For most of us handwriting is a task we take for granted.  We don’t consider how much goes in to it, nor do we think about the implications of not mastering this skill.
 
Handwriting is a complex process.  It involves:

• quickly transferring a thought into words
• accessing memory to choose the correct letters that make up a word (symbols)
• holding and directing the pen
• feeling the page and coordinating eyes to form the letters on the page.

 
Today with technology we increasingly use typing in place of handwriting.  Although typing and technology are useful tools handwriting has many benefits.  According to research three areas of the brain light up in a highly coordinated way when a person is handwriting and no such activity is observed with typing.
 
The physical act of handwriting helps improve:

• reading and writing
• reading comprehension
• memory and recall
• critical thinking and conceptual development
• creativity
• calming the body and nerve ends
• managing depression and anxiety
• problem solving
• organising and processing information
• focusing on tasks.

 
Children who struggle to write by hand often avoid it or are encouraged to type instead.  Unfortunately they then miss out on all the benefits derived from handwriting and from gaining help for the underlining cause of their difficulty, which may include problems with:

• fine motor weakness or weak hands
• poor coordination between hands
• poor core muscle strength or posture control
• poor eye hand co-ordination
• poor processing of their senses

 
These functions are necessary for many other life skills and activities, eg tying shoe laces, using a knife and fork, dressing and grooming
 
Occupational Therapists are experts in improving handwriting and hand skills.  If you know a child who is struggling with their handwriting contact us at Therapy Professionals as our friendly Occupational Therapist can help.  Just contact us:
 
                             Phone:                03 377 5280                            
                             Email:                  [email protected]
                             Website::             www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz

 Falls and Eyesight

Currently, one in seven New Zealanders are 65 and over. Around 30% to 60% of people in this age group have a fall each year.  And 10% to 20% will end up in hospital with a fracture.
Those over the age of 85 are 15 times more likely to fracture their hip in a fall than a 65-year-old.  Hip fractures can have a huge impact, with 30% of those over 85 who suffer one requiring placement in aged residential care.
 
Research shows there is a link between poor eyesight and falls in older people.
 
As we age most of us will become long sighted (presbyopia), making it hard to focus on things close up and we’re slower to adjust to light.  This is because the muscles of the eye lens harden.  Eventually we will all need glasses.
 
Other age related eye conditions that contribute to falls are cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
 
Some tips to prevent falls associated with eyesight issues:

• Get your eyes and glasses checked regularly
• As you’re statistically more likely to fall in the first few days after getting new classes, be careful and don’t rush!
• With bifocals, the change in focus is not instant, which is important when walking – looking from your feet to the footpath, then to the view, so be careful and slow down
• When moving from a well lit to a darker area – turn on a light or slow down so your eyes can adjust.
• On rough ground ‘stop’ before you look at the view.
• Clean your glasses regularly (at least daily)

​Follow this advice and you will help to reduce the chances of falling.
​
For other tips on falls prevention check out these links:
 
http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/be_aware_of_your_feet.pdf
http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/getting_yourself_up_from_the_floor._.pdf
http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/footwear_matters__.pdf
http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/to__exercise_or_not_to_exercise_.pdf
http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/hpme_gym.pdf
 
​For more information and advice on preventing falls our friendly Physiotherapists can help,
just contact Therapy Professionals :
 
Phone:    3877 5280                Fax:    03 377 5281
Email:      [email protected]         www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz

Do you need a walking stick?

You may benefit from using a walking stick If you feel:

• nervous about being able to walk safely
• concerned about falling when out and about especially on uneven ground
• unwell or sore because of a flare up in your arthritis

            
    or when you want to walk further than usual.
 
Using a walking stick is not a sign of ‘giving in’ and can often be used as a temporary measure to keep you safe and relieve the pain of sore joints.

Choosing a walking stick:
 

• There are many types eg wood, steel, and adjustable sticks.  All of these are fine.
• Height is very important.  To ensure your walking stick is the right height:
• Stand upright with your arms relaxed by your side.
• The top of the stick should be in line with the bony knob on the outside of your wrist.  This means your elbow should be slightly bent when your hand is resting on the handle of the walking stick.
• Ensure the rubber stopper on the end does not wear through.

Using a walking stick correctly:

• Hold the stick in the hand opposite to the painful or unstable leg.
• Place the stick forward, either before or at the same time, as the painful or unsteady leg.
• Take some weight on the stick and on the painful leg
• Up and down stairs:

           -  Going up, the good leg goes first, and then the sore leg and stick last
           -  Going down, the stick goes first, and then the sore leg and the good leg last
 
                                          Compiled for you by our physiotherapists

If you need more advice on how to choose the correct walking stick, just contact us at Therapy Professionals our friendly physiotherapists can help. 

​Phone:        3877 5280       Fax:  03 377 5281                                                                                                                                                        
Website:     www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz
Email:         [email protected]