On October 27th, we celebrate World Occupational Therapy Day, a day dedicated to recognising the remarkable contributions of occupational therapists across the globe. Occupational therapy plays an important role in improving the lives of individuals by promoting independence, improving the quality of life, and helping people engage in meaningful daily activities. From children needing developmental support to elderly individuals seeking to maintain independence, OTs tailor their approach to meet each person's unique needs. At Tenura, we proudly support the OT community by providing innovative daily living aids that help therapists and their clients succeed.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a client-centred profession that enables individuals to participate in everyday tasks that are important to them. Whether helping a child learn fine motor skills for school, aiding an adult in recovering from injury or supporting seniors in maintaining their autonomy at home, OTs develop personalised strategies based on each individual's circumstances. The holistic approach of OT emphasises performing tasks and enhancing the meaning and satisfaction derived from engaging in these activities, promoting a greater sense of purpose and fulfilment.

The Impact of Occupational Therapy

World Occupational Therapy Day reminds us of occupational therapy's profound impact on individuals who face physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges. For many, the simple ability to carry out daily activities can be life-changing. Occupational therapists work closely with clients to set personalised goals, whether regaining the ability to cook after an injury or maintaining mobility in the face of ageing. Through tailored care plans, OTs help individuals take control of their lives and navigate their unique challenges. Research has shown that occupational therapy significantly enhances life satisfaction and independence, focusing on assisting individuals to participate in meaningful activities that bring them joy and self-worth.

Celebrating Occupational Therapy Day

The celebration of World Occupational Therapy Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and honour the achievements of occupational therapists and the individuals they help. Many communities organise events, workshops, and seminars to promote the profession and its impact. Social media campaigns allow people to share their stories and experiences with occupational therapy, using hashtags like #WorldOTDay to spread awareness and celebrate the profession's impact. You can also support occupational therapy initiatives by getting involved in your community, participating in local events, or advocating for better access to OT services.

How Tenura Supports Occupational Therapy

At Tenura, we see firsthand the transformative power of occupational therapy. Take the story of John, for example. After suffering a severe injury, John struggled with basic tasks like dressing and cooking. With the guidance of his occupational therapist and the help of Tenura's daily living aids, John regained his independence and confidence. Our adaptive products, including grip aids and non-slip mats, played a crucial role in helping him recover and manage everyday tasks more effectively. Similarly, Emily, a young girl with developmental challenges, made remarkable progress thanks to her occupational therapist. Using sensory products from Tenura, Emily improved her motor skills, making participating in classroom activities easier and boosting her confidence.

Tenura’s Role in Supporting OTs and Their Clients

At Tenura, we understand occupational therapists' essential role in supporting their clients' progress. That's why we're committed to providing products that assist in the rehabilitation and daily living of individuals who face mobility and dexterity challenges. Our adaptive tools, such as our grip aids and non-slip products, are designed to support individuals in performing daily tasks more efficiently and confidently. Tenura's products align with occupational therapy goals by promoting independence and helping people achieve greater control over their daily activities, whether holding utensils, gripping surfaces or carrying out self-care routines.

Customised Solutions for Unique Needs

Occupational therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach, nor are Tenura's products. We collaborate with occupational therapists to ensure our aids meet the unique needs of their clients, making daily life more manageable. By incorporating therapist input, we can continuously innovate and provide practical, user-friendly tools that enhance therapy sessions and everyday use. From elderly individuals managing arthritis to children with sensory challenges, Tenura's solutions are designed to empower people of all ages and abilities.

As we celebrate World Occupational Therapy Day, let's take a moment to appreciate the incredible work of occupational therapists and the difference they make in people's lives. At Tenura, we are honoured to be part of this journey by providing practical, innovative daily living aids that support independence and improve the quality of life. Together, with the help of OTs, we can empower individuals to live their best lives.

Let's celebrate the power of occupational therapy and reflect on how we can further support the profession. Whether participating in local initiatives, sharing stories, or providing resources, World Occupational Therapy Day reminds us that with the right tools and guidance, we can help make a difference in the lives of individuals and their communities.

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.