Well as I mentioned in my last blog I have retired as a COTA. I don't miss getting up in the mornings to get ready for work, but I already miss meeting and working with people. That was one of the key matters considered as this decision was made because I knew it would leave a blank in my life.   As much as there were always a few ...

  Hello readers, sorry I've been gone for a while. I had to take a bit of time away from the blog in order to deal with some personal issues. Life is always challenging, and sometimes a break is needed. Sometimes a break is just to refresh your spirit. For me this was both.   One personal issue is my mom, who fell recently and broke ...

  Working as a COTA I have noticed more and more people of larger size on my caseload recently. I tend to note that as much as their admitting diagnosis can vary, many have similar health issues. Working with people of size is no different than working with any other patient, but it will require good strength and body ...

  It was another day of treating low level patients for high minutes. This really makes me miss one of my old supervisors who stood his ground against management, allowing the therapy team to determine minutes. Completing nearly an hour of treatment with a person who is either barely responsive or has severe memory deficits is a challenge, ...

  Working as a COTA in a prn status has its advantages, but it also has it disadvantages too. As much as the flexibility of setting your own schedule is nice, some days there is no need for extra help.   So working prn status you can set the hours and days you prefer to work. That is nice for times when you need a day off for a ...

  I really have to say the new computer system is really affecting my productivity. It is terrible, but lately all I do during a treatment is check minutes. In the many buildings I travel to therapists are dealing with the issue in different ways, and for the most part I don't like it.   So our daily log is now one page with a list ...

  So at work this week one of my schedules had five patients on it. Four of these were in the facilities locked unit, meaning their major diagnosis was Alzheimer's or dementia. Three of the four refused to do any therapy without a lot of coaxing and encouragement. Spending the time to talk them into doing any therapy wasted so much time ...

  Just this week I had a patient who made my day. This person was very friendly, willing to participate addressing all of their goals, and had some great stories. It made the entire treatment pass so quickly I went way over the scheduled time.   But this got me thinking about patients I've worked with over the years, especially some ...

  How do things go in your LTC building when the state survey team walks in the door for their annual visit? I tend to find that projects get started, more staff is visible, and the pace picks up.   Of course the home is aware of when the survey will happen, which I believe is a three month window. In many places I've worked it ...

  Computerized documentation and tracking for therapy have been around for some time now. Advancements in programming and internet access have helped create many new programs directed towards the therapy world. With the latest change at work I am wondering if they actually help save time.   My first computer at work was in 1985 when ...