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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-10-06, Page 6II -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Oct. 6, 2004 Local OT helps people gain `skills for the job of living' Occupational therapist Cathy Melady celebrates one year in business as Canadians celebrate Occupational Therapy Month By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff It's almost been a year since Cathy Melady first opened the doom of her occupational therapy (OT) office in the Hometown Health building in Seaforth but she never forgets where she first saw the benefits of OT. Melady's first exposure to the benefits o f occupational therapy happened when she was around the age of 11 or 12 and was visiting her severely arthritic grandmother. "She used a lot of gadgets around the house. She had elastic shoelaces and blocks that made her chair taller," said Melady. "I always remember thinking that's kind of cool." According to Melady. her grandmother had a hard time doing everyday activities such as eating or dressing herself. Working as an OT, Melady said that her job is teaching people "skills for the job of living." "It's really helping people to do things differently or more efficiently if they've been injured or they've had an illness or developmental delay," said Melady, who does most of her work with children and some seniors. While most O T s traditionally work in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, community organizations, schools and homes, Melady decided to open her own private clinic and offer her services to people who might not qualify for the therapy in the publically funded health system. "It was hard for me to get my head around charging for my service because typically health.care professionals don't think in the business lines as much," she said. While this is a new way of thinking for Melady, she said that private clinics are Quoted 'She used a lot of gadgets around the house. She had elastic shoelaces and blocks that made her chair taller. I always thought that was kind of cool,'-- Occupational ool,--Occupational therapist, Cathy M.$ady FREE DELIVERY Prescriptions, Home Health Care & More! KEATINOS Guardian Pharmacy 67 Main St., Seaforth 527-1990 PHARM Occupational therapist Cathy independent lives. becoming more commonplace. "It's certainly a different way of thinking for me. Certainly from what my colleagues say and from what's happening nationally it's a growing trend," said Melady. "A lot of OTs are making changes towards private therapy." According to Melady, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists deemed October "Occupational Therapy Month "because they want more awareness of what OTs do." "The goal (as an OT) is to Melody displays some of the teach people the strategies or give them the equipment that they require so that they're independent," said Melady. Frequently Melady is called into schools to help find out what strategies can be put in place to help children that struggle with an injury, illness or developmental delay. With older people, Melady is commonly asked to help find ways to help seniors with mobility and ways to cope around the home. "The things that OTs are really good at is understanding how the mind and the hod y tools she uses to help people work together and how that is also effected by community environmental factors." said Melady, who receives calls from Woodstock to Goderich. " All of that really effects how a person functions everyday." In her 14 years as an OT, Melady has worked at the St. Joseph's Health Centre in London, in schools in Huron and Perth, Ontario March of Dimes and as a case manager for the Community Care Access Centre. Melady said the biggest thing she's realized, since becoming an OT close to 14 act ort4 anor Metueement est't-,ience 100 James Street, Seaforth 519-527-0030 "P c aaxm rinf► C ei xw i, , m d/ei ( 1 Aetwiel () yajl (6</)1/ Catherine Schalk Administrator Charlene Foxton Retirement Residence Director Join us for these October, November & December Everitt; 11Nsday, Oat 12 Diner's Club at 5pm Tuesday, Oct 12 Dance to Ivan Noris's Band /In Monday, Oct 25 Blood Pressure Clinic 2pm to 4 pm Tuesday, Oct 26 Halloween Pari q with Huron Strings 2pm Saturday, Oat 20 Grandparents Fall Festival Donations to Breast Cancer 1 pm to 4 pm Wednesday, Nov 3 Leslie Richards one -man -band 2pm tUseday, Nov 9 Candlelight Diner's Club 5pm Tuesday, Nov 9 Dance to Lorne MacKenzie's Band 7pm Wednesday, Nov 17 Western Entertainers Dance at 2pm Tuesday, Nov 23 Foot Care Day & Blood Pressure Clinic Ay Appointment Only Saturday, Nov 21 Christmas Bazaar d Tea Room 2pm to 4 pm Monday, December 13 Blood Pressure Clinic 2pmto4pm Tuesday, Deoember 14 Diner's Club ripm Tuesday, December 14 Dance to Wally DeWolt': Band 7pm Monday, Dsoember 20 Old Fashioned Candlelight Vigil with music to follow Please call for further details on any of our events. For a Personal Tour & Complimentary I cinch please call Charlene at 519-527-0030 rk Jason Middleton photo regain skills to help them live years ago, that there's different ways to do different things. "You might have a habit of doing something one particular way, but it's helped me realize you can take things from many different angles," said Melady. loo gather for Dining Out's ioth • anniversary Close to 100 Seaforth and area community individuals joined together on Thursday, Sept. 16 in celebration of the 10 year anniversary for the Town and Country Support Services, Seaforth Dining Out Program at the Seaforth arena. All present enjoyed a tasty roast beef meal and cake for dessert. No one went away hungry. Special guests and wishes were brought forth by Carol Mitchell M.P.P. Patrick Shanahan from the Ministry of Health, Long Term Care Division, Kathy Scanlon, director of Huron/Perth Community Care Access Centre and Joseph Seili, mayor of Huron East. Steve Hildebrand was present to bring good wishes, warm thoughts and examples of how "We can walk through life but that we are never alone." Wonderful music followed by a group called the "Pioneers." Everyone had the chance to get up and exercise their dancing feet. Door prizes were won by Arthur Henderson, June Martene, Thelma Preszcator, Thelma Pryce, Jean Young and Margaret Beuermann. Share the wealth winners were Harry Pennings, Vera Murray, Johanna Verberne, Marian Becker, Anna McNichol, Cecilia Ryan and Corry Klaver. Our Thanksgiving Day program will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at noon. Cost of the meal is $10 per petsott for a turkey meal with all the ficin s. Call 482-9264 to reserve by the Monday morning prior.