Sex is an ADL!

Do you address a client's sexuality or ask how they identify?

These are the questions that we must ask ourselves in order to provide client centered care, keeping in mind AOTA’s Vision 2025: “As an inclusive profession, OT maximizes health, well-being and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities, through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living."

Guest Devlynn Neu MS OTR/L shares their passion for bringing awareness and unity within the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as helping OT practitioners feel comfortable addressing sexuality in our practice. 

1. Use neutral terms - "partner," "significant other"
2. Ask "How would you identify yourself?"
3. Start with conversations and being open to learning about 

Inclusive Services for LGBT Older Adults A Practical Guide To Creating Welcoming Agencies

National Resource Center on LGBT Aging

LGBT Aging Change, Challenge and Resilience Power Point

Person-Centered Care for LGBT Older Adults

Be sure to learn more from my guest Devlynn with their "LGBTIA+ 101: What do the letters mean" series on Instagram through @therainbowot, theRainbowOT.com and through their conversation with Sarah from OT4Lyfe Podcast called Inclusion, Education, and All the Colors of the Rainbow.

The biopsychosocial model and occupational therapy are the perfect match as they both focus on the biological, psychological, and social elements, as well as a person's individual experiences. It is often confused as being a biopsychosocial frame of reference, but it's not, as a model of practice helps organize a clinician's thinking and approach, vs  a frame of reference is a tool to guide one's intervention.

What I love about this model, is that it really puts the person first - but wait, I know what you are thinking, "I am an OT practitioner and I already do put my patient's needs first!" But wait! Rafael Salazar II, MHS, OTR and owner of Rehab U Practice Solutions digs in, gives some examples, and shows us how to use this model to maximize our outcomes.

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1. Utilizing the biopsychosocial model in occupational therapy can help be a more holistic practitioner
2. Using the biopsychosocial model can help you be more client centered and have better outcomes
3. It can help address more psychological factors in a medical model 

Links, resources and specific recommendations from Rafi

Using Therapeutic Use of Self to Maximize Occupational Therapy Outcomes

Occupational Therapy Documentation: The Ultimate Guide to Simplify Your Documentation

Research:

• The Biopsychosocial Model: Application to Occupational Therapy Practice
• A Biopsychosocial Approach for Addressing Chronic Pain in Everyday Occupational Therapy Practice

I really appreciate you choosing to listen to and supporting the Seniors Flourish podcast. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it and taking a minute to leave an honest review and rating for the show in iTunes. It really helps in reaching fellow OT practitioners, students and those curious about the OT profession.

Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes to make sure that you never miss an episode!

The Learning Lab Membership is the #1 source that helps you save time and feel more confident in your practice through clinical support, HUNDREDS of treatment ideas, patient handouts, resources, EBP journal club + more! Join today at SeniorsFlourish.com/LearningLab

Caregiving is hard. 

Listen to the personal story Katherine Ayala OTA, shares about being a caregiver to both her mother and father while finishing up occupational therapy school. Stories like hers give us, as healthcare professionals, a perspective to help us love, forgive, strive and be the best we can be. 

A special thank you to Katherine for sharing her story. 

1. Caregiving is a hard role, especially when it isn't a role you have planned.
2. "Balance" is more than difficult to achieve and having family support helps.
3. Caregiving can change (strengthen and/or stress) family dynamics.

23 popular online and in-person caregiver support groups to share with caregivers

Caring for Yourself or Other Caregivers

Additional information on how to talk to caregivers to help with carrying out recommendations

I really appreciate you choosing to listen to and supporting the Seniors Flourish podcast. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it and taking a minute to leave an honest review and rating for the show in iTunes. It really helps in reaching fellow OT practitioners, students and those curious about the OT profession.

Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes to make sure that you never miss an episode!

The Learning Lab Membership is the #1 source that helps you save time and feel more confident in your practice through clinical support, HUNDREDS of treatment ideas, patient handouts, resources, EBP journal club + more! Join today at SeniorsFlourish.com/LearningLab