Orkney Occupational Therapist Sarah Poke joins national “Lift up your Everyday” campaign

Orkney Occupational Therapist Sarah Poke is championing a national online campaign during Occupational Therapy Week (7-13 November) to give an extra helping hand to folk who may need a lift in everyday life.

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists is leading the campaign – “Lift up your Everyday” - to try and give people a boost through life hack top tips – with the things they love or need to do every day.

Sarah, who has been an OT for eight years – six of those with Orkney Health and Care – agreed to get involved as she feels it’s the little things in life that can make a big difference.

She said: “It’s so important to keep people doing the things they love, to keep them motivated and well. Coming out of the pandemic and into the cost-of-living crisis is hitting so many very hard and people are finding life extra tough at the moment.

“This campaign is all about supporting people to take small, positive steps using life hacks in bite-sized videos from occupational therapists (OTs) like myself to keep well and lift up people’s everyday lives. I also decided to be a part of this campaign to promote our profession as I think it people are less aware of what we do compared to other professions. OTs do great work which needs to be shared.” 

Sarah, a Learning Disability Occupational Therapist, has recorded a short video clip sharing her life hack. Within it she says: “Is your child struggling to try something new? My Occupational Therapy life hack is to help your child pretend to be their favourite character from a TV programme, book or movie and dress up or act as them, then ask them to try and do something they are worried about. Role play as someone else can really help them overcome their fears and to try something new. Achieving something new and having fun doing it can give you both a little lift.”

OT’s are experts in helping people overcome challenges that they may face and getting the most out of life. The advice in the campaign is practical, achievable and meant to be fun.

Sarah continued: “This provides a great opportunity to promote our profession and the work we do. Occupational Therapy helps people to be able to do day to day tasks that they need to do as well the ones they want to do, the more fun ones. This can range from cooking, attending their community activities or getting washed and dressed. These tasks that we do every day, we call occupations.

“We have a range of Occupational Therapy services in Orkney including; Home First, Community for Adults and Children, Intermediate Care Team, Ageing Well and for people who have a Learning Disability. We offer advice to all ages.

“I primarily work with people who have a Learning Disability, but I also see adults in the community who have varying diagnosis’ such as Parkinson’s and Dementia. My working day really varies which I enjoy. I get to meet lots of people, the individual themselves, cares, family members, and other professionals.

“I mainly visit people in their own homes but if needed I can visit them at their community groups, respite or at the day centre.

“I get to know the person’s strengths as well as discussing the difficulties they are having. When speaking about tasks they are having difficulties with, I consider the person (the skills they have / impact of their diagnosis), the environment and the task itself.  I work with people to be as independent as possible in their home, work, and their hobbies/ interests.”

For more OT Life Hacks visit OTLifeHacks.co.uk or follow #OTHacks