Innovative occupational therapy resources, Memory and Later Life Team
Recently SHINE provided funding for Occupational Therapists in the Memory and Later Life team in West Cumbria.
The Shine Fund enabled the team to buy innovative and much needed items to add to their OT toolkit, like a circuit board, sensory cushions, whiteboards, weighted cutlery and other items designed for patients in their care. Occupational Therapists in the MLL Team use resources to assess and provide interventions for those living with dementia in the community and in residential care settings. It is essential that the activities they provide are age appropriate, person centred and provide the right level of challenge and interest for service users.
These resources can make a huge difference to patients, as a non-medicalised approach using meaningful activity and resources can sometimes negate the need for medications.
The weighted adaptive cutlery and other items will be used as demonstration resources during occupational therapy assessments to educate patients and carers about potential adaptive strategies. This will allow individuals to understand and trial equipment options before making decisions regarding longer-term provision, ensuring recommendations are personalised and appropriate to their functional needs and allowing other carers to understand individual needs.
The equipment will support personalised, occupation-focused interventions aimed at promoting independence, improving engagement in meaningful activities, supporting sensory regulation, enhancing cognitive stimulation and supporting assessment daily activities.
Jenny Harper, Clinical Support Assistant said
"The circuit board has proved very popular with one patient, who had previously worked in the electronics industry, and was so proud when he created a circuit with a light and a buzzer. His family are going to buy a set to keep at home."
