April 2021

April is Occupational Therapy Month!

Last month we had the opportunity to learn about and celebrate our social workers. This month, we celebrate National Occupational Therapy Month! Occupational therapy, like social work, is a person-centered profession that seeks to optimize the quality of life and wellbeing of individuals and communities. Here at the Department on Aging, we find the services of our occupational therapists to be invaluable. And we think you might too!

So, what is an occupational therapist? Occupational therapists, sometimes referred to as OTs, work with people at all stages of life to establish, maintain, or recover the skills needed for day-to-day living. OTs come alongside individuals and caregivers to provide interventions that allow them to perform practical and meaningful activities (or occupations) that promote health and wellness.

In the world of aging and caregiving, OTs offer a broad range of services. Some OTs, particularly those working in rehab facilities, focus on recovering skills needed for activities of daily living. Some of these activities include bathing, dressing, eating, meal preparation, and strategies for social engagement. While OTs assist in building the strength, dexterity, and range of motion necessary for completing daily activities, they also modify the activities themselves and the environments in which they take place. OTs utilize interventions, technology, and equipment to make the necessary adjustments to help individuals and their loved ones succeed.

Occupational therapists also encourage health and wellness through preventative work. For older adults, fall prevention is essential. Many OTs working with older adults offer home assessments to identify areas of the home that may be unsafe. OTs will make suggestions for modifications to the space or activity in order to improve safety and prevent future injury. These modifications may include walk-in showers or bathtubs, wheelchair ramps, grab bars, slip-resistant flooring, and medical alert systems.

Aging comes with physical and cognitive changes alike, and occupational therapy addresses both. Occupational therapists work with individuals with dementia and other cognitive challenges, providing assessments of need and skill level, building activities appropriate for the individual's cognitive level, creating safety plans for those who get disoriented and wander, and helping caregivers respond to and address personality or behavioral changes in their loved ones.

Occupational therapy is a wonderful resource to aging adults and caregivers alike. Here at the Department on Aging, we are fortunate enough to have two occupational therapists available, Marie Dagger and Ryan Lavalley. Marie has been a part of our Aging Transitions team for 5 years, working on programs related to dementia support, fall prevention, home modification, and the medical equipment loan program. Ryan has supported the department for 6.5 years, and is currently working with both the Handy Helpers volunteer home repair program and the Orange County Housing Preservation Coalition. Both bring a unique, invaluable perspective to our team and clients.

As always, please contact the Aging Helpline if you are interested in speaking with one of our occupational therapists: 919-968-2087 or agingtransitions@orangecountync.gov.

This month’s article is written by Maria Thomas, one of our four MSW practicum students. Maria, originally from Indiana, moved to North Carolina four years ago and has fallen in love with our moderate winters and proximity to both beach and mountains. She is a dual-degree student, working towards a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School and Master of Social Work at UNC Chapel Hill. Maria is eager to begin her career as a healthcare chaplain and/or social worker. Here at the Department on Aging, she has particularly enjoyed participating in our grief support group and Senior Resource Teams.

Maria is one of four MSW practicum students working with the Department on Aging this academic year. These four students join our five staff social workers in the Aging Transitions mission of seeking to empower Orange County older adults, and those who support them, to age well through programs and services that promote and enhance quality of life.

Group activities at both Orange County senior centers remain closed, and staff have continued to implement and modify programs and services to help support seniors throughout the crisis. Subscribe to the bi-weekly Endless Possibilities e-newsletter or see the COVID-19 Resource for Seniors web page for more information.

Department on Aging COVID-19 Resources for Seniors

Aging Information Helpline: 919-968-2087
Aging Information Email: AgingTransitions@orangecountync.gov

Health Department Information Page
COVID-19 Hotline: 919-245-6111
COVID-19 Email Updates: sign up here

Additional Resources

The month of April is Occupational Therapy Month 2021!

Read more about OT through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA):

Announcements

While COVID-19 Restrictions are Easing, Mask Mandate and Other Safety Protocols Remain in Effect

Governor Roy Cooper announced lifting some restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Executive Order 204, which took effect Friday, March 26 at 5pm and is set to expire on April 30^th.

What will be staying the same?
The statewide mask mandate remains in effect, and masks are still required in both outdoor and indoor settings. Social distancing is still required even as restrictions for capacity are lifted.

What will be changing?

Low Risk Settings
- Can open up to full capacity
- This includes childcare, camps, outdoor playgrounds, museums, retail and personal care businesses.
Medium Risk Settings
- Can open up to 75% capacity indoors
- This includes restaurants, breweries, wineries, gyms, pools and amusement parks.
Higher Risk Settings
- Can open up to 50% capacity
- This includes arenas, conference and reception spaces, movie theaters, gaming and bars.

The decision is based on North Carolina’s COVID-19 key metrics, including a reduction in cases, percent of positive tests, hospitalizations, and number of people visiting the emergency room for COVID-19 symptoms. As vaccine production and distribution is increasing, many North Carolinians are being vaccinated which is contributing to the positive trend in data as well.

Brief Counseling Services

Our team of social workers are available to work with older adults and caregivers for brief counseling services, free of charge. We can work with you on issues including anxiety, depression, caregiver stress and loneliness.

Contact the Aging Helpline for more information: (919) 968-2087.

Activity Engagement Coaching

As we all continue to spend a lot of time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be challenging to find ways to keep loved ones with dementia engaged throughout the day.

For caregivers connected to our various dementia support programs, we are now offering one-on-one consultations (via phone or GoToMeeting) where we can brainstorm together with you to identify enjoyable activities that are:

person-centered, i.e. tailored to your loved one’s current and past interests, likes, preferences
meaningful
appropriately modified to current level of cognitive ability, thereby reducing frustration and stress

If interested, please contact Lisa Meinert (919-245-4251), certified Dementia Care Partner and Activity Professional or Marie Dagger, OTR/L (919-245-4279).

Dementia Friendly Orange County

The Orange County Dementia Friendly Business Training is now offering virtual programs!

Dementia Friendly organizations aim to be aware and accommodating of the needs of patrons with dementia or other special needs. Thank your local businesses for being a Dementia Friendly Partner or ask them to become one!

Focus Group Participants Needed - Hospitalization & Parkinson's

UNC is hoping to learn more about experiences with Parkinson’s while in the hospital, with the goal of using this knowledge to develop patient-centered recommendations for improvement of experiences and care of people with Parkinson’s during hospitalization. Participation involves a one-time virtual focus group. UNC is enrolling people who have been diagnosed with PD who had a stay in a hospital (or the care partner of someone with PD who had a stay in a hospital) for more than 24 hours between September 2018 and end of February 2020, not for the purpose of DBS. You do not need to be a patient of UNC and the hospital stay could have been at any hospital. See flyer for more information.

NC Registry for Brain Health

Would you like to learn about how you might get involved with brain health research? Could you use tips on keeping your brain healthy as you age?

If so, you can join the NC Registry for Brain Health! This is a community of people who want information about ongoing research studies in North Carolina designed to improve brain health and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. The Registry connects people like you with information about:

Studies of how lifestyle change (diet and exercise) may improve brain health and slow down disease in those who may already have a memory problem.
Clinical trials examining medications that might work to improve memory functioning or slow memory decline.
Studies of new technologies to help us better identify the early signs of disease.

Any North Carolinian over the age of 18, with or without a memory disorder, is welcome to join the Registry. To learn more and join, please visit: ncbrainhealth.org.

2021 Incontinence Supply Drive

The Orange County Department on Aging is currently accepting unopened packages of adult continence supplies. These supplies are then provided to older adult community members in need. See flyer for more information.

Planning for a Surgery? Borrow your equipment!

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Socially-Distanced Programs

Physical, Emotional, & Social Wellbeing

Caregiver Support Groups

Available via GoToMeeting. Register one day prior to the meeting. To register, please call 919-968-2087 or email agingtransitions@orangecountync.gov. Contact Kim or Kendall for more information.

Thursday, April 8 at 1pm
Friday, April 9 at 10:30am
Thursday, April 22 at 1pm
Friday, April 23 at 10:30am

Caring for Ourselves – Support Group
Are you feeling worried, lonely and in-need of a safe space to explore your feelings? Our support group will include education and tips that can be used to manage feelings of stress and anxiety while promoting self-care. Group meetings offered virtually through GoToMeeting. Contact Tiffany Summers, LCSWA 2 days in advance to receive a program eligibility screening and instructions on how to join - 919-245-4277.

Monday, April 5 at 2:30pm
Monday, April 19 at 2:30pm

Chapel Hill Parkinson's Support Group

Available via Zoom - contact Jessica Shurer (919-843-1657) for more information and to RSVP. This month will have split discussion groups

Care Partners: Tuesday, April 6 at 12:30pm
People with Parkinson's Disease: Tuesday, April 6 at 2:30pm

Chapel Hill PSP & CBD Support Group

Support group for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration. Available via Zoom - contact Jessica Shurer (919-843-1657) for more information and to RSVP. This month's topic is 'in-home care: considerations for finding the right care.'

Wednesday, April 7 at 1:30pm

Fit Seniors

At-Home exercise and wellness options designed to help keep you fit and healthy with your favorite OCDOA fitness instructors: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/2371/Fit-Seniors.

Parkinson's Wellness Recovery (PWR)
PWR Moves exercise classes are returning (virtually!) to UNC Wellness Centers. Open to members and non-members, these PWR classes were a big hit before the pandemic and after a year and many requests from y’all, we’re excited they will be starting up again. And now anyone from anywhere can join since it’s virtual! Cost and registration details on the attached flyer.

Wednesdays & Fridays, April 7-30 at 2:30pm

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Educational Events

Caregiver Education Series: Preparations for a New Caregiver

Caregiving can often start suddenly as a result of an injury or quick change in a loved one's condition. Marie Dagger, MS OTR/L and Kendall Kopchick, MSW, LCSWA will discuss how to quickly prepare yourself and your home for caregiving. Contact Kendall (919-245-4278) for more information. Register online for this webinar.

Monday, April 19, 1:30 – 2:30pm

Dementia - Let's Talk About It
Join OCDoA’s dementia care specialists for a conversation around topics related to dementia education, living with cognitive change, and being a dementia caregiver. We will provide 15-30 minutes of education at the start of the hour, and the remaining time will be spent in conversation, Q&A, and resource-sharing around the day’s topic. Contact Marie for more information.

Tuesday, April 6 at 10:15am: Fronto-Temporal Dementia
Tuesday, April 20 at 10:15am: Cognitive Assessments

Home Safety Chats

Join occupational therapist Marie Dagger virtually on GoToMeeting for 30 minutes of education and Q&A about staying safe at home. Bring your requests related to the day's topic! Contact Marie for more information.

Tuesday, April 13 at 10am: Choosing Your Footwear
Tuesday, April 27 at 10am: Recovering After a Fall