In the ever-evolving landscape of health and therapy, keeping up with the latest regulations, standards, and best practices is crucial for professionals committed to providing the highest level of care. This is particularly true when it comes to the use of disability aids. In this blog, we'll explore some recent regulatory updates, emerging professional standards, and best practices in the industry that you need to know.

The Importance of Staying Updated

Regulatory bodies continuously update their guidelines to ensure that healthcare products, including disability aids, meet the highest safety and efficacy standards. For professionals in the health and therapy sectors, staying informed about these changes. Compliance ensures that your products and services are safe, reliable, and practical, crucial for patient well-being and trust.

Recent Regulatory Updates

Post-Brexit CE Marking Adjustments

The UK's departure from the EU has led to significant changes in the regulatory landscape, particularly concerning CE marking. Now, disability aids in the UK require the UKCA marking (UK Conformity Assessed) to be sold legally. This shift necessitates that manufacturers and distributors of disability aids ensure their products comply with the new UK standards. Professionals need to verify that the aids they recommend or provide are properly certified.

ISO Standards for Assistive Products

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) periodically revises its standards for assistive products, ensuring they meet the latest technological advancements and safety requirements. The ISO 9999 classification, for example, is regularly updated to include new categories of assistive devices and refine existing classi­fica­tions. Staying informed about these changes can help professionals recommend the most current and effective products to their clients.

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Guidelines

The HCPC, which regulates health and care professionals in the UK, has updated its guidelines to emphasise the importance of continuous professional development in line with new standards and practices. For those specialising in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, or any field involving disability aids, adhering to these guidelines ensures that your practice remains aligned with the latest professional standards.

Emerging Best Practices in Disability Aids

Emphasising Individualised Care

The trend towards personalised medicine has reached the realm of disability aids, with a growing emphasis on tailoring products to individual needs. This approach improves patient outcomes and aligns with regulatory expectations for patient-centred care.

Sustainable and Ethical Practices

Sustainability is key in manufacturing and using disability aids. Professionals should be aware of products made from eco-friendly materials and companies that prioritise ethical manufacturing practices. Not only does this align with broader societal goals, but it also resonates with increasing clients who are conscious of their environmental footprint.

Integration of Smart Technology

Integrating intelligent technology into disability aids is an exciting development, offering enhanced functionality and greater user independence. Professionals should familiarise themselves with the latest intelligent aids, from sensors that monitor usage patterns to apps that allow for remote adjustments, ensuring they can have the familiar solutions for their clients.

Keeping up with regulatory updates and professional standards is essential for any health or therapy professional who works with disability aids. By staying informed, you not only ensure compliance but also enhance the quality of care you provide to your clients. The landscape is constantly changing, but with a commitment to learning and adaptation, you can remain at the forefront of your field, providing the best possible support to those who rely on your expertise.

 

Initially, this observance day was known as WFOT Occupational Therapy International Day, until 2010 when it was renamed Occupation Therapy Day/World OT Day. The observation day became official and globally recognised in 2010.

The organisation behind OT day is the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, WFOT, which provides a supportive community for occupational therapists globally with over 100 organisations and 580,000 occupational therapists in their membership program. Their key goals are to provide a "global voice for occupational therapists" and "set the standards" for OT practices. They want to educate their members with the latest industry news and techniques, delivering this via their approved education programmes.

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists is pushing the focus this year on displaced persons and marginalised communities and how best to support them as occupational therapists.

This crucial topic is at the forefront of people's minds following shifts in the soci­oen­vi­ron­mental climate following the recent events and those seeking refuge from Afghanistan.

World OT Day 2021 Theme

This year's World OT Day theme is "Belong. Be you.", which lends itself to their latest initiative. They are releasing content regarding diversity, adversity and inclusion, and how we can work together to improve community relations and resilience. We all come across struggles in daily life. Some people in our local and global communities have a more challenging time overcoming adversity, recently highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement and the scenes in Kabul following the evacuation of troops in Afghanistan.

For some readers, you may be unaware of the essential work that occupational therapists do, especially concerning the above. Still, this blog will demonstrate how vital their role is in our communities and why we need to show our support.

Occupational therapists can help those living in crisis or transitioning to a new location after seeking asylum. They can utilise socio-political occupational therapy techniques to help patients further. They can help by giving a person structure to their daily lives to provide a sense of normalcy. Their work improves the patient's mental health and integration into their new local communities. Integration is paramount and can be acquired through education and bridging the gap between cultural differences. These techniques aim to develop the patient's independence.

As you can imagine, moving to a new area or even country, things can vary, from the types of food to the typical clothing fashions. It was not a choice for displaced humans to move, and the migration was involuntary or even coerced. These people could be fleeing persecution, war/conflict and violations of their human rights. So, understanding culture is beneficial for all parties involved, especially as there may be a language barrier in the initial move.

If you are an OT and want to improve your knowledge surrounding this years theme, there are two free courses available from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists website:

• WFOT Disaster Management for Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy: Working with Displaced Persons

Get Involved in World OT Day 2021

You can be involved in World OT Day via the #WorldOTDay hashtag, post a picture of you celebrating at your practice and help spread awareness. They also have some social media images and other content you can use to help promote World OT Day via their website.

Other hashtags you can use include:

• #WorldOc­cu­pati­onal­The­rapyDay
• #Occu­pati­onal­The­rapyDay
• #WFOTOc­cu­pati­onal­The­rapy­In­ter­nati­onalDay

The WFOT has partnered with PromOTing Occupational Therapy. Their theme is to "Pay it Forward", calling Occupational Therapist practitioners and students globally to volunteer some of their time to help make a difference in the world. They have also made a map detailing the countries that have taken part over the years.

If you are looking for some accounts to follow so you can share their content and join in on the conversation, be sure to view:

• World Federation of Occupational Therapists
• World OT Day
• Tenura's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts

We Support World OT Day + Claim Your Free Gift

We want to give away a pack of 4 anti-slip coasters with any purchase. The drinks coasters are made from non-slip silicone, which prevents drinks from being easily knocked over and spilling. To claim the free gift, add the discount code FREECOASTEROTD at checkout. We hope you have enjoyed this blog and will get involved in this years OT day. Make sure you don't miss out on other healthcare observation days and future free gifts by subscribing to our blog.

Please note, you must spend over £10 on the Tenura website to redeem the offer via the discount code. The promotion is running from 14/10/21 to 14/11/21.

Occupational Therapy Day will take place on the 27^th of October 2020; it's an internationally recognised observance day that highlights the importance of hard work but also mental and physical wellbeing. This event celebrates the outstanding work of occupational therapists globally through their efforts to re-train and develop the human brain.

Tenura wants to say thank you to Occupational Therapists, and therefore, we are offering a 15% discount on the Tenura Kitchen Pack, an OT essential. Type in the discount code OTD15 at checkout.

What is Occupational Therapy?

A form of healthcare, occupational therapy (OT), is about rehabilitation via training and therapy; these techniques help patients attain the skills necessary for everyday life and to renter the workplace. Often a person requires OT if they have a physical or mental problem (impairment may be better than ‘problem’) that is currently impacting their life/ability to work.

The role of an occupational therapist is vast and includes developing everyday skills, like:

• Motor Skills (The action/movement of muscles – to walk, stand and balance)
• Life Skills (Cooking, cleaning and getting dressed)
• Social Skills (Handling rejection, rewards, and social interactions positively)
• Cognitive Skills (Problem-solving, decision making, and other brain-based skills)
• Coordination (Minimises the risk of injury while also promoting exercise)

People of all ages can seek an occupational therapist for several reasons. A person may need the help of an OT for help regarding birth injuries or defects, sensory processing disorders, autism, rheumatoid arthritis, and other such physical or cognitive difficulties.

To help patients, an OT may suggest you purchase certain types of occupational therapy equipment for the home. At Tenura, we have many home aids that can be beneficial to patients, for instance, the Tenura kitchen pack. Occupational therapy equipment for the home can range from small gadgets that help with menial tasks such as opening a jar, to larger disability aids such as grabrails and adaptive technology.

What is an Observance Day?

Observance days, also known as awareness days, are scattered throughout the year. United Nations General Assembly is one of a few organisations that creates the calendar, taking into account recent and historical events that need national or even global humanitarian reflection. We can all learn from our mistakes and successes for a positive future.

How Can you Participate in Occupation Therapy Day?

You can register to participate in the International Day of Occupational Therapy by arranging a volunteering activity. Over the years, there have been many ways to experience World OT day, including setting up information stands, television appeals, social media campaigns, all to spread the OT message. This year's message is to "Reimagine Doing" which reflects the actions OT community as they help and reimagine the best ways to assist the people in society who need it most.

Tenura has a special discount to help you celebrate Occupational Therapy Day 2020. We are offering a 15% discount on occupational therapy equipment for the home, specifically the Tenura kitchen pack, which contains three helpful aids for the elderly, disabled and other people who need assistance.

The Tenura Kitchen Pack Contains:

1 x Tenura Non-Slip Coaster

People who are seeking the advice of an occupational therapist may find this home aid very useful as it provides a helpful non-slip surface for resting objects you wish to remain in place as they won't get knocked over with ease.

1 x Tenura Silicone Bottle Opener

A silicone bottle opener can be especially useful for someone with disabilities such as Parkinson's, Arthritis or other hand impairments as it helps you to open bottles without the same level of stress in your muscles and joints.

1 x Tenura Silicone Jar Opener

Tenura's silicone jar opener is a larger version of the bottle opener, for use on bigger containers, but also on doorknobs, allowing you to get a firm grasp of the handle due to the silicone grip-enhancing properties.

You can stay on the pulse of the International Day of Occupational Therapy 2020 by following the hashtags:

• #OTDay2020
• #WorldOTDay2020

You can also follow these awesome accounts on Twitter:

• @thewfot
• @promotingot
• @TenuraUK (For special OT discounts)

If you would like to claim 15% off the Tenura kitchen pack enter the discount code OTD15 at checkout before the end of October and don't forget to tag us in your OT day celebrations.