This is the first posting in a new blog, to serve the needs of geriatric OTs.  The goal of this blog is to create a place where therapists working with geriatric patients can find information gathered from a variety of sources.  Treatment ideas, fun seasonal or holiday ideas, technology tidbits, EBP information . . . all things OT to make day to day practice easier and more fun for ourselves and our patients.

First - Pinterest. The best technology time-killer known to man, and an invaluable resource for pediatric therapists. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the things you find on the web. You can browse boards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.  A pin is an image added to Pinterest. A pin can be added from a website using the Pin It button, or you can upload images from your computer.  A board is a set of pins. A board can be created on any topic.  To sign up for Pinterest, go to www.pinterest.com and select the button "Join Pinterest" at the top of the page.

There is lots of visual information on Pinterest, including some great photos of beautiful scenery and some stunning shoes!  There is an overwhelming amount of craft ideas and therapeutic ideas for pediatric therapists.  There is little information for therapists who work with a geriatric population, but it is there if you search for it.  You can search for a pin, or search for a board.  Typing in the search terms "occupational therapy" or "ot" led to a large number of boards, some with good information.  Some of those pins are shared here:


  someecards.com




lighthouse.org



More information to follow!

Here is the first activity idea - modified from an activity learned about/witnessed a long time ago.  I don't know who gets credit for thinking this up originally.

For a different way to work on fine motor skills, while standing or seated, play Tic Tac Toe with marbles/beads and golf tees.  Push 9 golf tees into a block of styrofoam, and then use two different colors of marbles or beads to play Tic Tac Toe.

Here is a verson, with a wooden base: 




When I play this game, I put the block on a towel and the marbles spread out over the towel.  This way, we are working on dynamic standing balance, reaching, visual scanning, and UE AROM (at a minimum)  all at once; as well as having fun!