occupational therapist

jennyanydots
jennyanydots Member Posts: 49
edited 21. Apr 2010, 09:26 in Living with Arthritis archive
Has anyone had one of these assesments done ... what do they do and how do they help you ...

Comments

  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi what is your assessment in connection with - is re home/work or rehab following an op?

    Speedalong
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • patriciamary
    patriciamary Member Posts: 117
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I had an occupational therapist assessment at home about six months ago. It really helped me. The OT will look round your home and ask you questions about how you manage to do things, like getting in and out of bath or shower, getting in and out of bed, peeling and chopping veg etc. All the day to day things most people take for granted but for people with arther it can be a nightmare. I was given loads of handy gadgets to help in the kitchen, a jar opener, a basket to boil potatoes or veg in and it saves you lifting the heavy pot. A long handled sponge which sounds funny but the joy of washing your feet without bending down is heaven. Dont worry usually the type of people who do a job like an OT, are quite understanding and will have assessed loads of other people and they will probably mention things that you have'nt even thought off. Speaking from experience the OT was a godsend.
    Regards
    Trisha
  • wendylou
    wendylou Member Posts: 88
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    jennyanydots wrote:
    Has anyone had one of these assesments done ... what do they do and how do they help you ...
    Hi Jenny I have just had an OT assesment last thursday and these peaople are a great help, he looked around the main rooms of the house were i use and they take note of things you might need he noticed that my settee is too low and as i have OA of the hips he advised me to sit in the chair and he is getting me things to higher the chair to make it easier to get up he measured the bottem of my legs and the height of the chair to make sure its right, he even took notice while we were in bathroom talking i had to rest on the toilet seat and when i got up i gripped the door to help me up and said i need a free standing frame to help me get up and down that was something i did not notice as its something you do every day but he noticed, oh i could go on but take my word they are very helpfull. Wendylou :)
  • cthornley
    cthornley Member Posts: 627
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Jenny
    I've had one done but not sure how much my experience will be of use to you as it was very specifically linked to me having a baby and coping with that particular challenge
    Just wanted to say it was very useful and even though she hadn't necessarily had experience of what I needed she bent over backwards to sort out information, advice and equipment for me - really wonderful and so helpful
    Chrissie
  • minky67
    minky67 Member Posts: 2,328
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Mine was great to,she organised for me to have a perching stool for the kitchen & a bed lever to help me turn at night.
    I had 2nd bannister rail & bath rails fitted by social services 2 or so years ago & my OH refered me back to them.
    I got a phone call today to say they are coming out on monday to do a bathing assessment as my needs haave changed since last time they came out.
    If you see them thy go through everything with you & will help you as much as they can,what they cant help/provide you with then they can refer you to social services.
    Good luck.
    debs
  • wendylou
    wendylou Member Posts: 88
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    minky67 wrote:
    Mine was great to,she organised for me to have a perching stool for the kitchen & a bed lever to help me turn at night.
    I had 2nd bannister rail & bath rails fitted by social services 2 or so years ago & my OH refered me back to them.
    I got a phone call today to say they are coming out on monday to do a bathing assessment as my needs haave changed since last time they came out.
    If you see them thy go through everything with you & will help you as much as they can,what they cant help/provide you with then they can refer you to social services.
    Good luck.
    debs
    Hi Minky I noticed in your post you mentioned a bed lever to help you in bed , my OT is bringing the same thing out to me to help me to get up during the night i hope you don't think im'e being nosey can you let me know what does the lever do my OT said it fits under the base of the bed but i don't know what it does, also he's bringing me a perching stool next week i can't wait it will be a god send, i hope you don't mind me asking and also they are very helpfull people arn' t they. :wink::) Wendylou
  • jennyanydots
    jennyanydots Member Posts: 49
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    speedalong wrote:
    Hi what is your assessment in connection with - is re home/work or rehab following an op?

    Speedalong

    hi .. I think it is to see what help i need around the home, how i am managing ... i have bought many usfull items myself, but am struggling getting up out of bed, I do not know how they would help outside the home .. i have no experience of OT's,

    What i have found is ,i carry on struggling as though it is normal. Well normal for me! ... but maybe listening to someone elses views on how i need to do things will help me .. thanks everyone for your replies ... i will post and let you all know how it goes ...
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    a visit from my hospital OT today I can thoroughly recommend the experience!!!

    Today she came to check up on my wrist splints, and also to bring a bed lever (someone mentioned one earlier ... goes under the mattress .... seems like it will help but will let you know when I've tried it!) a perching stool and a raised toilet seat. I must admit that I was not looking forward to the raised toilet seat, but it is only 2 inches not huge like others i have seen, and it is a help.

    THe greatest thing was that although she couldn't help me with a bath lift ..... my mother-in-law gave me hers when her bath was taken out, and with a bit of fiddling and a lot of laughing we worked out a way that I should be able to have a bath properly :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

    the battery is now on charge (we used it all up trying it out :roll: ) and I can't wait for tomorrow to try it out. MIL was pleased that we could finally use it too.

    so I say give it a go and you might be pleasantly surprised at what you get out of it.

    hugs
    WOnky xxx
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    wendylou wrote:
    minky67 wrote:
    Mine was great to,she organised for me to have a perching stool for the kitchen & a bed lever to help me turn at night.
    I had 2nd bannister rail & bath rails fitted by social services 2 or so years ago & my OH refered me back to them.
    I got a phone call today to say they are coming out on monday to do a bathing assessment as my needs haave changed since last time they came out.
    If you see them thy go through everything with you & will help you as much as they can,what they cant help/provide you with then they can refer you to social services.
    Good luck.
    debs
    Hi Minky I noticed in your post you mentioned a bed lever to help you in bed , my OT is bringing the same thing out to me to help me to get up during the night i hope you don't think im'e being nosey can you let me know what does the lever do my OT said it fits under the base of the bed but i don't know what it does, also he's bringing me a perching stool next week i can't wait it will be a god send, i hope you don't mind me asking and also they are very helpfull people arn' t they. :wink::) Wendylou

    HI Wendylou,

    hope you don't mind me answering your question, because until today I wondered just like you!!!!

    my OT brought a bed stick today, it looks like this
    http://www.aidapt.co.uk/homepage.aspx?prod=VY429&idcode=081510000050 although mine is turned down at one side so that hubby isn't inconvenienced. It slid under the mattress (even of our kingsize bed) and is at my left hand side, just below where my pillow ends. I was taught how to use it to turn over without stress to my arms and shoulders, and also how to get out of bed in the morning when I am stiff, using it as a lever.

    I will let you know how I get on ...... and also if hubby hurts himself when he gets up int he morning and forgets that he has a chunk of metal at his side too :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

    it isn't scary looking at all, and I think it is well worth it.

    hugs
    WOnky xxx
  • minky67
    minky67 Member Posts: 2,328
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Wendylou, Sorry i missed your message.
    MY Bedlever fits under the mattress on my side & is just under were the pillows sit. Mine doesnt show on the other side of the bed just my side.
    I got used to it straight away.
    I just reach over at night & It helps me to turn over( hard to explain) & also i use it to help me push myself up out of bed in the mornings.I can also hold on to it when im dressing.
    I hope you find yours as much help as i do mine.
    The perching stools are great too & my bathlift is being delivered tomorrow.
    I will have to wait a bit for the rest of the rails to be fitted But my social worker will tell me on Monday when she comes out how long roughly i willl have to wait.
    I never mind anyone asking, happy to help.
    take care debs

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