Independent Occupational Therapist

JULIE SWANN

'Nursing & Residential Care'

Some of these articles form the basis for my book: 'Promoting independence and activity in older people'

Some of these articles can be downloaded in PDF format. To view the PDF files you will need the free Acrobat Reader.
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2008

January Vol 10 No 1:
Mechanics of vision and common visual impairments
This article, the first of three articles on sight and visual problems, will examine the basic anatomy of vision and introduce some common visual problems prevalent in people over 65 years of age.

February Vol 10 No 2:
Visual impairments: environmental considerations
This article provides practical tips to facilitate management of the physical environment for residents, staff and visitors with visual problems.

March Vol 10 No 3:
Visual impairments: assistive devices
Ranges of equipment available for residents with visual problems are highlighted.

April Vol 10 No 4:
Understanding visual and auditory loss
The problems encountered by people with deafblindness are introduced.

May Vol 10 No 5:
Dual sensory loss: daily living activities and the care home environment
Deafblindness is explored and performance of everyday daily living tasks can be affected. The impact of the care home environment is discussed.

2007

January Vol 9 No 1:
Keeping mobile: Part two
Looking in more detail at the different types of walking appliances available.

February Vol 9 No 2:
Looking towards the future
Discussing new government policies and the role of telecare technology within the care setting.

March Vol 9 No 3:
Reducing the risk of falls: Part one
Looking at how a fall can impact upon an individual and highlights some of the factors that can increase the risk of such an incident.

April Vol 9 No 4:
Reducing the risk of falls: Part two
Examining the environmental factors and mobility problems that can contribute to a fall.

May Vol 9 No 5: (PDF File 132KB)
Rheumatoid arthritis: when the body rebels against itself
Describes how rheumatoid arthritis affects functional abilities.

June Vol 9 No 6:
Rheumatoid arthritis: coping strategies
Outlines practical ways to enable sufferers to cope with pain and incapacity.

July Vol 9 No 7:
Osteoarthritis: when joints wear out
Explores the causes of osteoarthritis and offers practical advice.

August Vol 9 No 8:
Coping with osteoarthritis
Describes how care staff can enable residents to be as independent as possible.

September Vol 9 No 9:
Good vibrations: detecting deafness
There are 9 million people in the UK who are deaf or hearing impaired. In the first of a new series exploring hearing loss, the mechanics of hearing are introduced.

October Vol 9 No 10: (PDF File 106KB)
Dangerous vibrations: hearing damage
Discussing environmental noise, preventing hearing damage, and a variety of aids available to treat hearing loss.

November Vol 9 No 11:
Helpful vibrations: assistive devices in hearing loss
Specialist devices and alternative communication techniques, to overcome problems caused by deafness, are explored.

Dec Vol 9 No 12:
Tinnitus: in search of silence
Treatments and interventions for this common auditory problem are considered.

2006

January Vol 8 No 1:
Aiding recovery in the early days after a stroke
How care staff can help prevent secondary physical complications that may occur in residents who have had a stroke.

February Vol 8 No 2:
Rehabilitation after stroke: How carers can help
The techniques therapists use to help people to regain a good movement pattern following stroke and how care staff can make a positive difference.

March Vol 8 No 3:
Equipment and adaptations for helping stroke survivors
Explaining how teaching different techniques, adapting the environment and using assistive equipment can all help.

April Vol 8 No 4: (PDF File 6790KB)
Turning gardens into multisensory experiences
Looking beyond the provision of a basic garden in care homes and encouraging the design of a safe outdoor environment that stimulates all senses.

May Vol 8 No 5:
Making gardening activities easier to manage
Exploring ways to make gardening easier for residents by the provision of some assistive equipment and DIY solutions and the use of new techniques.

June Vol 8 No 6:
Cognitive quietening: Turning down the mind’s clock
The value of activities to help relaxation within a care home setting and methods of helping people to relax.

July Vol 8 No 7:
Turning basic skin care into pampering sessions
By altering techniques of applying skin-care products, care staff can transform basic care tasks into pampering time for residents.

August Vol 8 No 8:
Understanding multiple sclerosis
Outlines the impact of multiple sclerosis and offers some practical advice on how to reduce the adverse effects of this progressive disease.

September Vol 8 No 9:
Living with multiple sclerosis
This article focuses on assistive devices and the principles of good designs that enable people with multiple sclerosis to manage day-to-day activities.

September Vol 8 No 9:
The journey into care
Exploring factors that can aid the smooth transition into a residential care environment.

October Vol 8 No 10:
Helping residents reminiscence: The role of the environment
How the environment can minimise or increase the impact of ageing and cognitive loss.

November Vol 8 No 11:
Keeping up appearances
Advice on ways to help residents manage personal grooming tasks for themselves.

December Vol 8 No 12:
Keeping mobile: Part one
This article focusses on the range of mobility problems that residents may experience.

2005

January Vol 7 No 1:
Making life easier: Improving access in care homes
Continuing the theme of access issues this article discusses how care homes can improve residents’ lives and maintain levels of independence by adopting a positive approach to the subject.

February Vol 7 No 2:
Equipment for living: The value of assistive devices
The use of equipment to help residents to achieve a greater degree of independence.
The Single Assessment Process: An overview (PDF File 83KB)
What you need to know about this guidance and how it will impact on elderly people and the key workers involved in their care.

March Vol 7 No 3:
Food for thought: Providing solutions to feeding problems
Suggestions on how to make mealtimes a pleasurable experience and ensure that residents receive sufficient nutrition.

April Vol 7 No 4:
Keeping up appearances: Helping residents to dress
How we can help residents in care homes to be independent in this daily task and make use of dressing aids.

May Vol 7 No 5:
When it’s hard to dress: Managing cognitive problems
Helping residents who are cognitively impaired, with useful tips for care assistants.

June Vol 7 No 6:
Coping with the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
How parkinsonism affects residents and offers some practical ways of overcoming problems with daily living.

July Vol 7 No 7:
Moving with a purpose in Parkinson’s disease
More practical assistance for people with Parkinson’s disease, showing how movement patterns and general levels of activities can be improved.

August Vol 7 No 8: (PDF File 114KB)
Providing convenient and accessible toilet facilities
The practical problems associated with going to the toilet for older and disabled people, and ways of minimizing the difficulties.

September Vol 7 No 9:
Enabling residents to bath easily and safely
Solutions to common problems surrounding this activity and a guide to the latest special bathing equipment on the market.

October Vol 7 No 10:
Simple steps for promoting urinary continence
Urinary incontinence is not necessarily part of the ageing process; there may be medical, physiological or
other reasons. This article explores approaches to tackling the problem.

November Vol 7 No 11:
Enabling residents to enjoy showering
Exploring the concept of showering and how to make it safe and pleasurable for residents and staff.

December Vol 7 No 12:
Understanding and reducing the risk of stroke: a guide
An explanation of the background to this disease and advice to carers on what they can do to help prevent residents from having a stroke, including monitoring diet and weight.

2004

July Vol 6 No 7:
Encouraging mobility through movement to music
Outlines the benefits of activity to music within a care environment and provides ideas on session content.

August Vol 6 No 8:
The importance of assessment in residential care
Outlines the assessment of residents and how this relates to planning practical activities in a care setting.

September Vol 6 No 9:
The value of recreational activities within a care setting
Provides ideas for enjoyable activities and describes the value of establishing a varied programme for residents.

October Vol 6 No 10:
Encouraging communication through 'silver surfing'
Discusses how the Internet can be used for residents in a care setting and offers some useful web addresses.

November Vol 6 No 11:
Doing things differently: A facilitative approach to care
An enabling approach to encourage residents to become more independent with activities of daily living.

December Vol 6 No 12:
Access for all: Removing barriers that disable (PDF File 665KB)
How restrictions are imposed on people with access difficulties, which prevent their full participation in
society. Ways of minimizing these by good design practices are explored.