What a year… so much happening! (new clinic soon!)

We haven’t been posting much over the last while – too busy!

Due to the sale of our building (and its upcoming demolition), we’ve been on the hunt for a new space. That isn’t the easiest task in Vancouver but we are delighted to now be working on renovating a new clinic only a few blocks from our current space! It will be sad to leave our bright and quite special clinic of nearly 10 years, but we hope the new place will quickly become a home for our patients and physios.

We’re hoping for a mid-late September move, but that depends on the renovation and permits being all complete. We’ll let you know ASAP!

Advertisements

Physio can help: Neurological Conditions and Parkinson’s

Check out the Physiotherapy Association of BC (PABC) video about how physiotherapy can benefit those with Parkinson’s (and other neurological conditions): Physio can help: Neurological Conditions and Parkinson’s

The video highlights one of Neuro-Ability’s own physios: Naomi Casiro.

We run PRW!Moves courses at our clinic and as our space is limited, Naomi is developing her own programs using local gyms. For more information, see: Neuro-Ability Parkinson’s courses.

Exercise as potent medicine?

An interesting article in the New York Times: Exercise as Potent Medicine, by Gretchen Reynolds (Dec 11, 2013).    It describes how a large-scale study showed that when exercise is evaluated in the same way as drugs, in many cases it provides a similar level of benefit!   One of the study’s authors said: “We are not suggesting that anyone stop taking their medications,” he said. “But maybe people could think long and hard about their lifestyles and talk to their doctors” about whether exercise could and should be incorporated into their care.

Peer Mentor Program for Clinicians running May-June

The next Neuro-Ability Peer Mentor Program will be run this coming May-June. The goal of the program is to work on clinical reasoning and treatment skills with the goal of maximizing client function. See this blog post that includes an article published in PABC Directions on the Peer Mentor Program.

The program includes a combination of patient demonstration/workshop and theoretical discussion. Related readings from peer-reviewed journals shall be assigned.

• The program involves patient treatment sessions in pairs
• The Participant:Instructor ratio is 8:1

 

Dates:

May 14th to June 18th (6 sessions, Tuesdays: 5:15-6:45 pm)

• Led by Cathy Eustace.

VENUE:

Neuro-Ability Clinic located at 675 East 17th @ Fraser Street

COST:

$360.00 (Payable by cheque to Neuro-Ability once you receive confirmation of acceptance)

 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Current BC college registration as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist
• Current malpractice insurance (for treating patients during the program).
  • We are able to provide information on insurance to cover individuals for the course series if required.

REGISTRATION:

• Applications shall be accepted on a first come first served basis.

• Please email Cathy Eustace at cathy@neuro-ability.ca with the following information:
  • Your name, mailing address, phone number
  • Name of work setting, type of clients you work with, reason for wishing to participate in mentorship program.
  • A scanned copy of your college registration.

ONCE YOU RECEIVE A REPLY E-MAIL CONFIRMING YOUR ACCEPTANCE:

• please mail cheque payable to Neuro-Ability to 675 East 17th Avenue, V5V 1B5
• Please include a note indicating the cheque is payment for the Mentorship program.
  

More information on the program is available at Neuro-Ability.ca. Also, check out this blog post that includes an article published in PABC Directions on the Peer Mentor Program.

Community Programs: Recreation programs

The Vancouver Parks Board runs a wide range of adapted and special-needs recreation programs. Check out their website: Adapted Recreation Programs. Check it out and stay active!

Some of the sports, classes, and events included are:

• Swimming
• Wheelchair basketball
• Wheelchair rugby (a para-olympic sport that was invented right here in Vancouver!)
• Sledge hockey
• Boccia
• Curling
• Volleyball
• Various exercise classes
• they even run social outings…

Community Support: Stroke Peer Mentoring Program

The Stroke Peer Mentoring Program is run through the Stroke Recovery Association of BC. This free program matches someone living with stroke to a mentor who has had a stroke and who has training to be able to offer support, understanding, and education about issues of stroke and everyday life.  Mentors provide this support through telephone conversations, email, and/or 1-to-1 meetings.

A peer mentor does not replace your professional rehab team, but they can be very helpful!

For more information about this free mentoring program, please contact:

Carolyn Carter, Peer Coordinator
604-714-4185
peermentoringprogram@mac.com

Their brochure:

Community Support: Rehabilitation and Resource Team

In addition to the GF Strong ABI Program Outreach Team we pointed out earlier, the Vancouver Coastal Health “Vancouver Community Rehabilitation and Resource Team” is another resource for those living here in the Vancouver area. The team provides short, 6 month rehab programs for those living with complex disabilities. They provide assessment and treatment for individuals who want to improve their ability to function and have specific goals they would like to achieve. Rehab sessions may be in your home or in a nearby community location. The teams goals are to increase independence, community participation, and life satisfaction.

To qualify for this rehab program, you must reside in Vancouver, be between 19-64 years old, be eligible for Community Health Services and be living with a complex disability. The program is targeted at those who do not have third party insurance or working with Community Living BC.

If you are interested, please talk with your Case Manager at a Community Health Centre. If you don’t have a Case Manager, please call: 604-263-7377

Their brochure:

Peer Mentor Program for Clinicians running November-December

The next Neuro-Ability Peer Mentor Program will be run this coming November-December. The goal of the program is to work on clinical reasoning and treatment skills with the goal of maximizing client function. See this blog post that includes an article published in PABC Directions on the Peer Mentor Program.

The program includes a combination of patient demonstration/workshop and theoretical discussion. Related readings from peer-reviewed journals shall be assigned.

• The program involves patient treatment sessions in pairs
• The Participant:Instructor ratio is 8:1

 

DATES/TIMES and OUTLINES:

Patient Analysis and Treatment

  November 7th to December 5th (5 sessions, Wednesdays: 5:15-7:15 pm)

• Led by Libby Swain (8 participants)
• Theory/demos and working in pairs with 4 patients
  • WEEK 1: Demonstration Patient A (one of the 4 patients)
  • WEEK 2: Four Patients for assessment
  • WEEK 3: Workshop Patient B
  • WEEK 4: Four patients for treatment
  • WEEK 5: Workshop Patient C / Wrap up
• Note: Participants may be able to bring one of their own patients for workshop/demonstration/joint treatment sessions.

Please note each Program is run as an individual entity. Therapists can therefore sign up for either session or both sessions. Session A is not a prerequisite for Session B.

 

VENUE:

Neuro-Ability Clinic located at 675 East 17th @ Fraser Street

COST:

Each program is $360.00

 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Current BC college registration as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist
• Current malpractice insurance (for treating patients during the program).
  • We are able to provide information on insurance to cover individuals for the course series if required.

REGISTRATION:

• Applications shall be accepted on a first come first served basis.

• Please email Libby Swain at libby@neuro-ability.ca with the following information:
  • Your name, mailing address.
  • Name of work setting, type of clients you work with, reason for wishing to participate in mentorship program.
  • A scanned copy of your college registration.
  • A scanned copy of your malpractice insurance or request for us to provide you with information to secure insurance for the program.
  • Please identify if you have a patient you would like to bring to the program for a workshop/demonstration/joint treatment sessions.
    • If you sign up without a patient, and enough participants would like paired treatment session/s, you will be allocated to a therapist who has a patient.

ONCE YOU RECEIVE A REPLY E-MAIL CONFIRMING YOUR ACCEPTANCE:

• please mail cheque payable to Neuro-Ability to 675 East 17th Avenue, V5V 1B5
• Please include a note indicating the cheque is payment for the Mentorship program.
  

More information on the program is available at Neuro-Ability.ca. Also, check out this blog post that includes an article published in PABC Directions on the Peer Mentor Program.

Community Support: Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Team

A resource we would like to point out:

The GF Strong ABI Program Outreach Team works with clients, families and caregivers to assist people with an acquired brain injury to improve their quality of life. They assist in identifying and accessing the best available resources to support clients in their home community. They provide many resources including assessments, recommendations, advocacy, and consultation with other professionals in the community and in care facilities. Note: although they are based in Vancouver, adults with an acquired brain injury can be referred from any location in British Columbia.

We have included their brochure below, but if you wish to contact them:
Outpatient Admissions Coordinator, G.F. Strong Rehab Centre
604-737-6272
http://www.vch.ca/403/7676/?program_id=12710
outpatientadmissions@vch.ca

Two new and improved Peer Mentor Programs running this fall!

Two Peer Mentor Programs will be run this fall. Each will have a different focus and format (see outlines below), although they share the goal of working on clinical reasoning and treatment skills with the goal of maximizing client function. See this blog post that includes an article published in PABC Directions on the Peer Mentor Program.

Both programs include a combination of patient demonstration/workshop and theoretical discussion. Related readings from peer-reviewed journals shall be assigned.

• Program A will involve practical sessions
• Program B will involve patient treatment sessions in pairs
• The Participant:Instructor ratio is 8:1
• Note: Each program is run as an individual entity. Therapists can sign up for A, B, or both! Program A is not a prerequisite for Program B.

 

DATES/TIMES and OUTLINES:

Program A – Clinical Reasoning and Practical

  September 19th to October 17th (5 sessions, Wednesdays: 5:15-7:15 pm)

• Led by Cathy Eustace (8 participants)
• Theory/demos and practical
  • WEEK 1: Theoretical and Practical Introduction: Laying a foundation for the analysis of human movement
  • WEEK 2: Patient Demonstration and Discussion: The clinical reasoning underlying assessment and analysis of the patient.
  • WEEK 3:  Practical: Assessment and analysis
  • WEEK 4:  Practical: Treatment and handling focus
  • WEEK 5:  Practical: Treatment and handling focus

Program B – Patient Analysis and Treatment

  November 7th to December 5th (5 sessions, Wednesdays: 5:15-7:15 pm)

• Led by Libby Swain (8 participants)
• Theory/demos and working in pairs with 4 patients
  • WEEK 1: Demonstration Patient A (one of the 4 patients)
  • WEEK 2: Four Patients for assessment
  • WEEK 3: Workshop Patient B
  • WEEK 4: Four patients for treatment
  • WEEK 5: Workshop Patient C / Wrap up
• Note: Participants may be able to bring one of their own patients for workshop/demonstration/joint treatment sessions.

Please note each Program is run as an individual entity. Therapists can therefore sign up for either session or both sessions. Session A is not a prerequisite for Session B.

 

VENUE:

Neuro-Ability Clinic located at 675 East 17th @ Fraser Street

COST:

Each program is $360.00

 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Current BC college registration as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist
• For Program B only:
  • Current malpractice insurance (for treating patients during the program).
    • We are able to provide information on insurance to cover individuals for the course series if required.

REGISTRATION:

• Applications shall be accepted on a first come first served basis.

• Please email Libby Swain at libby@neuro-ability.ca with the following information:
  • Your name, mailing address.
  • Name of work setting, type of clients you work with, reason for wishing to participate in mentorship program.
  • A scanned copy of your college registration.

and, for Program B only:

• A scanned copy of your malpractice insurance or request for us to provide you with information to secure insurance for the program.
• Please identify if you have a patient you would like to bring to the program for a workshop/demonstration/joint treatment sessions.
  • If you sign up without a patient, and enough participants would like paired treatment session/s, you will be allocated to a therapist who has a patient.

ONCE YOU RECEIVE A REPLY E-MAIL CONFIRMING YOUR ACCEPTANCE:

• please mail cheque payable to Neuro-Ability to 675 East 17th Avenue, V5V 1B5
• Please include a note indicating the cheque is payment for the Mentorship program and the specific session you are signing up for (Program A or B)

More information on the program is available at Neuro-Ability.ca. Also, check out this blog post that includes an article published in PABC Directions on the Peer Mentor Program.