Meet Anna, Melanie and Riana: Occupational Therapists
Welcome Anna Baines, Melanie Souza-Ching and Riana Downs to the OT Works! team.
These three new therapists have been working with us since October 2021.
They provide community OT services for individuals by implementing daily activities at home, work and in the community in order to foster increased independence.
Anna has been passionate about supporting healthy communities for over 10 years, which led her to pursue a BA in psychology, a Master’s in Occupational Therapy, as well as volunteer at the Calgary Distress Centre helpline. Through her clinical education, Anna has experience with musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injuries, mental health (anxiety, depression), and concussion / traumatic brain injury. Anna works with ICBC, private-paying clients and those with extended health/disability insurance. She serves clients in the Metro Vancouver region, including Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Richmond.
Melanie has 10 years of Occupational Therapy experience working in the public health system from acute care, to rehabilitation, to the community environment. In private practice, she helps clients with musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injuries, post cardiac event, cancer, traumatic brain injury, and mixed diagnoses. Melanie works with WSBC, ICBC and private paying clients, as well as those with extended health/disability insurance. She serves clients in North & West Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster.
Riana earned her Bachelor of Health Sciences and worked in the engineering field for several years before pursuing her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from UBC. Riana assists clients with mental health concerns, chronic pain, musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injuries, concussion and traumatic brain injury, and those with mixed diagnoses. Riana works with ICBC, private-paying clients and those with extended health/disability insurance. She serves clients in Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley, including Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Langley, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Mission, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
Like all of our therapists, Anna, Melanie and Riana are full registrants and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC).
Get started with an OT
If you or someone you know could benefit from working with an occupational therapist, contact us today!
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
Meet Haley Tencha: Occupational Therapist
Welcome Haley Tencha to the OT Works! team! Haley has been working with us since August 2021.
She provides community OT services for individuals by implementing daily activities at home, work and in the community to foster increased independence. Haley is eligible to work on our contracts with WorkSafe BC, ICBC and Veterans Affairs Canada. She also serves private-paying clients and those with extended health and disability insurance.
Haley has been working as an Occupational Therapist for over 12 years. She has successfully treated clients with a variety of injuries and health conditions, including orthopedic injuries, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, concussion/brain injury and mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, PTSD, specific phobias). Haley has worked in both public health and private community settings.
She has obtained Certification as a Work Capacity Evaluator through Roy Matheson and Associates in 2013. She has completed hundreds of medical legal assessments across the lower mainland including Functional/Work Capacity Evaluations and Cost of Future Care Assessments. She has testified as an expert witness in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on numerous occasions.
Haley serves clients in the Metro Vancouver region, including Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, Coquitlam and Surrey.
Like all of our therapists, Haley is full registrant and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC).
Get started with an OT
If you or someone you know could benefit from working with an occupational therapist, contact us today!
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000.
Sleeping well is key for better health
If you made some new year’s resolutions for 2022, consider adding sleep to your list of goals.
Committing to better sleep have long-lasting benefits on physical and mental health. Having a good night of sleep help you feeling well-rested on the next day, and can help you being more productive, feeling more focused and even being more creative.
Data from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows that Canadians are not getting enough sleep, and that lack of sleep impacts our quality of life.
The good news is that there are simple and easy things that you can do to sleep better and have more energy.
Tips to improve your sleep:
Improving sleep can help a person to manage better. Quality of sleep is directly linked to quality of life. Many of these tips will seem like common sense. It is surprising how many of us have forgotten to follow these simple ideas to have a good night of sleep. Try to start using the following tips slowly each day to improve your sleep. :
- Avoid caffeine for at least 8 hours prior to bedtime; and avoid alcohol at bedtime
- Avoid smoking – nicotine is a stimulant and can keep you awake
- Wind down for an hour before bed under low light: a warm bath or shower one hour before bed might help
- No electronics – the blue light from the screens keep you more alert
- Don’t go to bed until you feel sleepy
- Create an appropriate environment for sleeping: keep your bedroom comfy, cool, quiet and dark
- Don’t use your bed for anything but sleep or sex
- Don’t lie awake in bed. If you are awake for more than 15 minutes get up and do a boring activity until you are sleepy before returning to bed
- Don’t watch the clock. If worried about not waking to an alarm, set 2 alarms
- Get out of bed at the same time daily with an alarm (YES this even includes weekends)
- Don’t take naps during the day if possible. If you have to, limit them to 20-30 minutes max
- Exercise as you are able – if possible, at least 30 minutes of exercise – 3 times per week
- Don’t use the snooze button. You may feel like you are getting more rest, but it will not be the quality sleep you need.
If you do make changes, you will likely awake feeling better the next day. Remember: being consistent help make a habit, and that by making changes and sticking with them will have the biggest impact. Some changes may have gradual effect that will grow over time. It may take a couple of weeks to notice a difference, so keep at it!
Read more about the benefits of a good night of sleep on this CBC article, and on this episode of The Nature of Things.
Get Started with an OT
Occupational Therapists help people with their activities of daily life—including getting more rest and better sleep.
All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and have additional training in areas such as mental health, brain injury rehabilitation, home safety and chronic pain.
We are here to help you achieving your goals to live your best life. Contact us today!
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Vancouver: 604.696.1066
Victoria: 250.999.8896
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
OT Works! Holiday Hours
OT Works! will be closed during the holidays.
We will be back to our regular hours on January 03, 2021, when we will be accepting new clients in Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, Sea-to-Sky, Sunshine Coast, Victoria and the Comox Valley.
Our Holiday Hours
| Monday, December 20, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
| Tuesday, December 21, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
| Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
| Thursday, December 23, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
| Friday, December 24, 2021 | Open, 9am-1pm |
| Monday, December 27, 2021 | Closed |
| Tuesday, December 28, 2021 | Closed |
| Wednesday, December 29, 2021 | Closed |
| Thursday, December 30, 2021 | Closed |
| Friday, December 31, 2021 | Closed |
| Monday, January 03, 2021 | Open, 9am-5pm |
Regular business hours resume on January 03.
We wish you a very Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year!
Get started with an OT
All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC). Our approach is based on current research and evidence-based practice.
If you or someone you know could benefit from occupational therapy, contact us today!
Email: referrals@ot-works.com
Vancouver: 604.696.1066
Victoria: 250.999.8896
BC RAHA: How an Occupational Therapist can help with home modifications
If you need home modifications to make your home safer for independent living, you might qualify for government-based BC RAHA program.
What is BC RAHA?
The BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations Program (BC RAHA) gives financial assistance to eligible low- and moderate-income households to complete home adaptations for accessibility. The program allows seniors and people with permanent disabilities or diminished ability to access greater independence within their own homes. As of March 2021, this program replaces the Home Adaptations for Independence Program, or HAFI. The revised program offers greater opportunity and simplified application processes.
Who can apply?
Homeowners, tenants and landlors alike can apply for the program. You may be eligible for BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA) help if you, someone in your household or a tenant has permanent disability or loss of physical abilities and you meet all the application requirements.
Please check the eligibility requirements at BC RAHA’s website: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/BC-RAHA
How can an Occupational Therapist help?
For some home adaptations, the program requires a completed assessment from an Occupational Therapist (OT).
A home assessment by an Occupational Therapist can help identify special equipment, design features and ways to make your home safer and more accessible.
An in-home assessment carefully considers the layout and features of your home with information about your disability or ability loss. An assessment identifies areas that could benefit from changes that allow you to continue living safely in your home as long as possible. Some recommendations may be simple like moving furniture to clear walking paths. Reducing your fall risk is a good start. By removing items that block your walking paths, you can improve mobility in your home without any extra cost.
Other recommendations may need more effort. You may have to buy equipment or hire a contractor to make home adaptations. This is where BC RAHA program can help. The home assessment findings can be used to assist with planning and help guide decisions and discussions. This makes sure any adaptations made to your home will meet your needs.
What are the home modifications that require an OT assessment?
All adaptations will be assessed based on how they address a household member’s permanent disability or loss of ability. If it is not clear how the requested adaptations will help the household member maintain independence in the home the requested adaptations may not be approved, or medical documentation may be required.
Not all modifications require an Occupational Therapist assessment. Please refer to the BC RAHA’s website (https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/BC-RAHA) to see the complete list of adaptation types and maximum rebate schedule.
Will BC RAHA cover the cost of the assessment?
BC RAHA will not cover the total costs of the assessment but will provide you with a rebate of up to $250, even if you do not qualify for the program or do not have any adaptations done.
Do I need a doctor’s referral to be assessed by an Occupational Therapist?
No, a doctor’s referral is not required for OT assessments for BC RAHA.
Why should I choose OT Works?
All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and are skilled in assessing clients for their home modifications with BC RAHA program.
Our OTs serve the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Sea-to-Sky and Vancouver Island. To learn more about our services, contact us.
Image reposted from aztechomeinsp.
October is OT Month!
Every October, OT Works! celebrate our incredible team of Occupational Therapists and the difference they make in their clients’ lives!
The theme proposed for OT Month by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) this year is I ❤️ OT!
Our Occupational Therapists at OT Works! help our clients in their homes and workplaces.
We provide individualized rehabilitation that facilitates functional improvement and active living.
With objective, medically supported information and a focus on function our experienced OT’s create meaningful change for our clients and customers.
Mental Health
One way to celebrate OT month is by providing more information to the public about the importance of OT.
Occupational Therapists provide a holistic approach to clients in their recovery, allowing them to get back to the activities they love.
OTs also play an essential role in mental health care, and in aging in place.
Read more about how an occupational therapist can help you with mental health support: https://www.oteveryday.ca/mental-health
Occupational Therapy at OT Works!
All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and are skilled in treating clients with physical injuries, mental health, and brain injuries.
Our OTs serve the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Sea-to-Sky and Vancouver Island. To learn more about our services, contact us.
OT Works! Land Acknowledgement
OT Works! recognizes and acknowledges that we are on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Kwikwetlem, Katzie, Qayqayt, Sto:lo, Songhees, Esquimalt and K’omoks Nations, on whose unceded territories we live, learn, work and play.
We perform a land acknowledgment at the beginning of each of our OT Works!’ meetings and have included a land acknowledgement on each page of our website as a reflection of our role as settlers and how the legacy of colonization continues to affect Indigenous People today.
At OT Works!, we strive to help others and in doing so make the world a better place.
As a company we promote quality care and ethical behavior. We support advances in education and culture, value diversity and inclusion, and advocate sustainable use of natural resources.
We recognize that respecting Indigenous rights is an extension of our beliefs and practices.
We know that a land acknowledgement is a small part of a much larger national discussion but we hope this statement can invite our team, clients, customers, and partners to reflection on Indigenous history and values.
Learn more about the importance of land acknowledgment:
- Have an idea of the Indigenous lands you are on: https://native-land.ca/
- UBC Xwi7xwa – Distance Research: https://guides.library.ubc.ca/distance-research-xwi7xwa/landacknowledgements
- Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/activism-skills-land-and-territory-acknowledgement/
How Occupational Therapy can help with social anxiety
With COVID-19 restrictions being slowly lifted, and people starting to get back to in-person social and work activities , some people are experiencing unexpected feelings of unease and anxiety.
Many people were expecting to be very happy and socially active right now, meeting friends, going to favorite restaurants, or joining that fitness class that they have been missing. But if instead of joy you are feeling afraid, anxious and are avoiding going out, please know that you’re not alone. Many people are feeling the same way.
According to Anxiety Canada, “Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common anxiety disorders, affecting between 7 and 13% of the population”.
How to effectively cope with social anxiety
The good news is that there are effective ways to cope with social anxiety.
Here are some good tips from Healthline:
- Ease back into it
- Visualize situations in your head
- Allow yourself to be scared
- Practice self-care
- Get professional help
Addressing anxiety is one of many things that Occupational Therapists can help with during these uncertain times. Our OTs have training and experience helping people overcome fear, anxiety and help them get back to doing things they love. We know that dealing with social anxiety can be overwhelming, but our Occupational Therapists are ready to help you getting back to the activities that are meaningful to you.
All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and are skilled in treating clients with anxiety and other mental health concerns.
Our OTs serve the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Sea-to-Sky and Vancouver Island. To learn more about our services, contact us.
Additional Resources
Anxiety Canada: Self-help strategies for social anxiety
Statistics Canada: Social Anxiety disorder: much more than shyness
New York Times: How to deal with quarantine-induced social anxiety
Image reposted from additude.com
OT Works! is hiring!
OT Works! is expanding services in Vancouver, Fraser Valley and Victoria!
We have open positions for Experienced Occupational Therapists in Vancouver and Fraser Valley, and for recent grads in Victoria and Fraser Valley.
If you know someone that would be a great fit for these roles, please share this post!
If you’d like to apply, please check our Careers page for more information.
OT Works! is the organization of choice for occupational therapists who want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Since 2000 our team has grown due to our commitment to our values and our people. We care about the people we serve and the people work alongside. Our therapists and clients are treated as individuals, not numbers. We are passionate about what we do and foster an environment where you can be inspired and be inspiring.
Apply today!
Run for Water: Providing clean water to communities in Ethiopia
For the fourth consecutive year, OT Works! Team participated in Run for Water, a run, walk and bike challenge with the goal of providing clean water to at-risk communities in Ethiopia.
OT Works! Team members and their families ran, walked and biked on their local communities following the current restrictions and guidelines of BCCDC.
Together, our team completed 111 activities during the month of May, and we covered almost 1,100 kilometers.
Run for Water sponsors provide clean water for life for one person for each completed activity.
In addition to our team’s efforts, OT Works! also donated $2,450 to the event, what made us the number one team in the donation amount for the event!
In total, OT Works! raised funds to provide clean water to 181 people in Haro, Ethiopia.
Our collective results were great, and our team members also had some outstanding individual accomplishments. Here’s some of our team’s highlights:
- Our Coordinator, People & Services, Milena Duarte, was the second place overall in the challenge for bike rides. She completed over 320 kilometers, and did one long ride of 110 kilometers in one day!
- Our associate Stephanie completed 21 runs during the challenge, covering 124 kilometers in total.
- Jaclyn Penner, one of our OTs, ran or biked 81 kilometers, and entered 12 different activities.
- Our OT Julia Pereira ran a total of 79k over 13 runs.
Way to go, OT Works! Team!
OT Works! believes that we have a role to play in making the world a better place. We are committed to building a sustainable society that acknowledges our individual and collective impact on the natural world and environment.
We look forward to participating in 2022 Run for Water event.
