One Handed Strategies for Community Living Activities

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Occupational therapists advise and counsel clients on strategies to increase functional independence and improve quality of life. Many occupational therapists struggle with knowing how to demonstrate adaptive strategies to clients who have suffered loss or loss of function of one hand to complete functional activities. This four-part series is directed toward completion of bi-manual tasks using such adaptive strategies with one hand, the residual limb, and a prosthesis, and may include the use of assistive devices. This fourth course in this series focuses on strategies to complete tasks in the community outside of the home. These important activities, such as driving, using an ATM and managing money, and grocery shopping, present their own unique challenges that are important for clients to anticipate. Join Debi Latour as she personally demonstrates how to complete a variety of community activities.

Meet your instructor

Dr. Debra Latour

Debra Latour has been an innovator from her earliest years. Debi wore her first prosthesis at the age of 14 months and then spent the years that followed working with the clinical team at Shriners Hospitals to improve upon their prosthetic designs. When it came time to decide upon her next step, Debi decided that a career as…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Driving

Driving represents a level of independence in the community that is very important to many people. Join Debi Latour as she discusses the available adaptive technologies, as well as the myriad of safety considerations necessary for drivers with one hand.

2. Gadgets

In a modern world with many technologies, it’s essential to know how to utilize these gadgets in an efficient way. From managing currency and using an ATM to using a touchscreen cell phone, Debi Latour helps you guide patients with the latest tips and tricks.

3. Occupational Tasks

It’s not uncommon for individuals to fear how their loss of function in one hand may affect their ability to work. In this chapter, Debi Latour navigates the workspace with ease, and offers a variety of ways to set up the space that best suits the client.

4. Grocery Shopping

Throughout this series, we’ve talked a lot about the importance of preparing food and feeding oneself. Inherent in this process is grocery shopping, which can be difficult when items may be out of reach or too heavy to lift with one hand. Debi Latour addresses each of these concerns and more in this chapter.

5. Leisure Time

While functional tasks for survival and the completion of ADLs and IADLs seem most important for individuals who’ve lost function in one hand, it’s often leisure activities and hobbies that mean the most to people. Listen as Debi Latour describes a number of different adaptations that can be made so that people can maintain their desired activities.

6. Social Skills

In this final chapter of the series, Debi Latour discusses what to do in uncomfortable situations that clients might find themselves in.

More courses in this series

One Handed Strategies for Personal Care Tasks

Dr. Debra Latour

One Handed Strategies for Kitchen Tasks

Dr. Debra Latour