Book Description

This book of exercises and case studies focuses on the basic skills required in all areas of Occupational Therapy practice. Its objective is to help users achieve competency at maintaining or improving function in activities of daily living, in preventing human performance deficits, and in understanding the underlying components affecting sensorimotor, cognitive, and psychosocial functions across the life span.Chapter topics encompass physical disabilities, pediatrics, psychiatric dysfunction, and geriatrics.For individuals enrolled in an Occupational Therapy program—demonstrating the abilities of screening and assessment, treatment planning, implementation, reassessment, outcomes, documentation, and direction of activity programs. ... Read more

Book Description

Elder Care in Occupational Therapy has been extensively revised into a new and completely updated second edition. This pragmatic text presents information in a user-friendly format that flows from one subject to the next with ease.From wellness to hospice, Elder Care in Occupational Therapy, Second Edition offers a broad yet detailed discussion of occupational therapy practice that is devoted to older adults. A wide variety of topics are covered in a concise format, such as historical perspectives, theoretical insights, the aging process, and current interventional strategies, to name a few.Perfect for the student or clinician, Elder Care in Occupational Therapy, Second Edition provides classic, professional information on theory, disease entities and treatment in a comprehensive format.Features:äh New and updated listing of resource materialsäh Case studies are presented that provide theoretical considerations and treatment methodsäh Detailed information on descriptions of clinical and community settingsäh Fundamentals of documentation and current reimbursement issues are explained ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Invaluable
This book has provided me, as an engineer, with an invaluable insight into how the human body fuctions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Review
As a residency program director in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, I found this manuscipt a useful instructional tool. This book would be especially valuable for first year physiatry trainees or for other residents who cover rehabilitation services while oncall. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A critical resource
This book is a must for professionals who work with clients with neurologic disabilities. A major contribution to the literature. ... Read more

Book Description

This extraordinary book is an indispensable reference for outlining the theoretical basis for visual, perceptual, and cognitive deficits, as well as specific procedures for the evaluation and treatment of these deficits. The book clearly explains each deficit and provides step-by-step testing techniques along with complete treatment guidelines. This invaluable book addresses both top down and bottom up approaches to evaluation and treatment. Vision, Perception, and Cognition is divided into categories for clarity, such as visual processing and discrimination skills, body scheme difficulties, executive functions and motor planning. The author has added additional theoretical information to back up evaluation and treatment decisions that are discussed. All the sections have been updated to represent the most current information available. This essential text now provides information for a more holistic approach as well as identifies subcomponent skills. ... Read more

Book Description

Art Activities for Groups: Providing Therapy, Fun, and Function provides therapists and activities professionals with 48 interesting and innovative art activities for populations with different cognitive levels and physical abilities. The projects involve the use of several different media including: collage, paint, and drawing. Suggestions include how best to facilitate the activity, including the use of music and verbal clues, creating social interaction and personal enjoyment. The activities are most appropriate for groups of seniors, groups of children and youth (3rd grade on up), and therapy or counseling groups of any age dealing with the specific issues covered by the activity.

What makes Art Activities for Groups useful is that the activities have been tested with different types of groups. Each activity includes an introduction detailing the best size of the group, the functioning ability required of the group, and the time needed to complete the project. Helpful suggestions give directions for facilitating the activity, assembling the materials, and preparation needed prior to beginning each project. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

overview of occupational therapy
i found this book very resourceful and informative in helping current students and future occupational therapy (ot) students, truly understand what is occupational therapy, its history, the purposes and concepts of occupational therapy, any misconceptions: such as the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy, and the occupational therapy field in todays changing society. It will enable these current students as well as possible future occupational therapy students realize the creativity, flexibility,and enjoyment of occupational therapy. ... Read more

Book Description

The process of printmaking can be useful to art therapists in a wide range of settings: for example, the incremental process can be helpful in groupwork, and physically challenged clients can benefit from the physical aspects of printmaking. The author book explores these therapeutic advantages of printmaking. She also describes its roots outside art therapy. Relief printing, intaglio, planographic or surface processes, and stenciling are all covered in detail, with many ideas for incorporating them into art therapy sessions. The author gives a comprehensive and clear account of the impact that printmaking can have on clients' inner lives, using many examples drawn from her own practice.

The combination of technical information, clinical applications and practical instructions for using the printmaking processes will make this book a valuable tool for art therapists and occupational therapists. ... Read more

Book Description

Increasingly, medicine is recognizing the special relationship between pets and people as one of the most powerful weapons in fighting disease, treating chronic conditions, and coping with troubling times. In fact, many doctors are routinely "prescribing" pets for their patients.

The Healing Power of Pets explores these phenomena in greater detail, combining revolutionary scientific discoveries with deeply moving, personal stories of the unique bond between pets and their owners. The stories are of people who have learned how to triumph over chronic pain, paralyzing phobias, sedentary lifestyles, and life-threatening conditions -- showing us that the best medicine might be that furry tail-wagging pet at your side. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

This one is for Max
Though outside my normal lane of fiction, this reviewer read this book because of my love for dogs and cats. My spouse has remarked that my significant other was my beloved dog Max who has to be in heaven still emitting beams of healing to me. Along with Danelle Morton, Dr. Marty Becker of TV fame and author of some of the Chicken Soup books provides an insightful look at healing miracles involving pets. Medical research has begun to correlate the healthy relationship between a dog or a cat and a human especially a person in need of healing.

THE HEALING POWER OF PETS describes how animals cure or prevent illnesses and encourage couch potatoes to get off their butt and join them in activities. The authors also provide true-life stories of pets enhancing the lives of their owners often in miraculous ways that science does not understand in spite of gathering high statistical relationships between health and owners. This well-written book is clearly for pet lovers who know inside their hearts the meaning of "harnessing the amazing ability of pets to make and keep people healthy ".

Harriet Klausner

Healing Power of Becker and Pets!
Dr. Marty Becker's "Healing Power of Pets" should be required reading at the high school level. Too many people use their pets as commodities. If they read this book, then maybe they'd realize what a treasure animals really are. When Becker talks of his pain and humiliation after a debilitating back injury, he finds solace in his barn. How? As he watches his wife do his chores, fear, shame and embarrassment overwhelm him. But that pain eases as he is nuzzled by his horse. The soothing velvet muzzle and warm breath on his neck radiate through his body. The truth dawns on Becker. There at home, he will be healed.

Becker recounts story after story of animals helping humans. The love and affection that they pour out on us is unequaled. They ease our loneliness, help cancer and heart patients, assist in recovery after earthquakes, floods and tornados. They even assist in counseling in disasters like Columbine. Dogs are used in reading programs in libraries. Fish soothe agitated, developmentally delayed people. A cat purring like a teakettle calms nervousness. The animal world offers, happiness, companionship, and most of all, responsibility. Not their's to us, but our stewardship of them.

Read this fine book and learn more about yourself. Learn what you owe your pet. And, vow to lend your assistance to end animal abuse of all kinds.

A fine balance of personal anecdotes and scientific info
The fact that this book was written by a co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul" (a book that I loved) is one of the things that made me pick it up. However, "Healing Power of Pets" is more than a collection of animal anecdotes. There's a lot of good, solid scientific information woven in, too. Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian who has worked with Animal-Assisted Therapy programs, cites numerous studies which show that people who are bonded with their pet(s) lead longer, heathier lives.

On page 74, for example, he refers to a 1995 study conducted by Erka Friedmann, a professor at the Department of Health and Nutritional Studies at Brooklyn College. She recruited 392 patients who had suffered heart attacks and were part of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial. Of these, 87 owned dogs and 282 did not. A year later, only one of the dog owners had died, while 19 of the non-dog-owners had passed away. In other words, people who own a dog are far more likely to be alive a year after having a heart attack.

Why is this? Many reasons are given in the book: dog owners get more exercise, they take better care of themselves because they feel responsible for the dog, they relax while petting the dog, they are less lonely because of the dog, etc. Other studies have shown that the act of stroking an animal's fur lowers the human's blood pressure like a form of meditation.

As a Jewish educator reading this book, I could not help but reflect on the fact that, compared to the general population, far fewer Jews have pets. In the Orthodox and Hasidic communities, especially, it is rare to see a dog in the house. One reason is because dogs were used to track and kill people during the Holocaust and other persecutions, so they have bad associations for many Jews. I understand this. Still, I found myself wondering how many of those 282 non-dog-owners in the Brooklyn College study were Jewish. (Brooklyn has a high percentage of Jews.) Are we allowing Old World fears about dogs to deprive us of a valuable form of therapy?

The pet doesn't have to be a dog, however. Cats (of which I have ten!) are equally therapeutic. So are other species, such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Even watching a tank full of fish can help a person to relax. The important thing is the Bond between the animal(s) and the human(s). Reading this book confirmed in a scientific way what I have always believed in my heart: this special Bond is a healing gift that God designed into the very fabric of creation.

Well rounded information on pets' extra-sensory abilities
Dr. Becker and Danelle Morton describe the positive effects that animals bring into our lives. They focus mostly on dogs and cats in this book and only briefly touch on other pets such as birds or rodents. They combine individual testimonials concerning animals assisting sick humans with data from researchers who study animal behaviour, and interviews with therapists who use animals for therapy. He sites several examples of nursing homes that have resident pets trained to assist in therapy sessions and discusses how these animals bring joy to lonely and/or ill elderly. More importantly, Dr. Becker details the type of pet best suited for a particular personality or illness.

He candidly points out that pets are not for everyone; that sharing your home with an animal requires great commitment and sometimes expense. He outlines the required care, loving and guidance needed. For me, this was the most important point in his book.

This book is well written, easy to read and absent of technical jargon. This book is not a treatise of recent scientific research on the subject of animal behavior or the use of animals in therapy. Most of the heart-warming stories are testimonials rather than solid scientific data, but anyone who truly shares a bond with an animal will appreciate these stories.

I recommend this book for anyone thinking of getting a pet, who already has a pet, or who simply loves animals. I particularly recommend this book to folks who see animals only as a commodity or worker/helper/hunter. It's an enlightening book.

A reader from WI
Marty Becker has written a very readable, informative book. He confirms what many people have believed to be true for a long time; that animals are good for us. He provides many examples of how animals are emotionally good for us as well as physiologically (they help to lower our blood pressure, cholesterol, lessen feelings of physical pain, decrease feelings of social anxiety, etc.). The information he shares is based on his personal experiences, the experiences of others, as well as information from various studies which have been done. After reading the book, I felt even better about the relationships I myself have with the animals that share my household. I am looking forward to utilizing his suggestions found at the end of the book to further strengthen "The Bond" I have with my pets, as well as sharing this book with others in order that they too can further appreciate the gifts our pets give us on a daily basis to make our lives even better. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides a link between occupational health and clinical practice. As such, the book is suitable for medical students, general practitioners and postgraduate students in occupational medicine. Other occupational health practitioners and occupational health nurses will also find this book useful. The contributors to the book are a mix of international and regional occupational health specialists and clinicians. This book will be a valuable starting point for the health professionals with an interest in occupational medicine as well as to those intending to specialize in occupational medicine. ... Read more

Book Description

Psychosocial Frames of Reference has been completely revised and updated to provide an excellent overview of occupational therapy in psychosocial practice.This exceptional new edition continues to provide a comprehensive description of occupational therapy and relevant psychological, social, and cognitive theories, plus real-life examples that contribute to the readers understanding of the person and his or her mental health concerns as they influence the ability to engage in meaningful occupation.The previous editions of Psychosocial Frames of Reference prepared readers to work in the mental health specialty of occupational therapy practice.The third edition continues to prepare readers for mental health specialty and additionally applies psychosocial theories to practice in multiple contexts outside the field of mental health.It is a text grounded in the professions belief that addressing psychosocial issues is at the core of all occupational therapy. Psychosocial Frames of Reference: Core for Occupation-Based Practice, Third Edition describes the three variables of person, activity, and environment and helps the reader to understand the relationships among these variables as they are viewed by the theoretical models presented in the text.The text provides an overview of the evolution of mental health theory models and thereby helps the reader put information into perspective.Theoretical summaries are supplemented with extensive bibliographies that the reader can explore and use as a springboard for finding evidence-for-practice.The theoretical and practice guides provided in the text act as a basis for clinical reasoning and help the reader in the selection of a particular frame of reference and the identification of intervention strategies. ... Read more

Book Description

This portable reference provides succinct information regarding preparation, performance, and follow-up on a given procedure. The most common procedures from all orthopedic sub-specialties are included and organized by body area. This portable surgical reference features original illustrations and includes only the most pertinent information. ... Read more