• Background Info: This podcast claims to be a judgment-free zone where individuals can spill all of the “tea” about OT, PT, and SLP. In the podcast, the host talks to real therapists out in the field to learn about the good, the bad, and essentially, everything in between, and there are no topics that are considered to be off-limits or left unsaid. Some of the topics in which are discussed within the episodes consist of salary, medicare, student loans, and of course, the good, the bad, and the ugly of all things therapy.
• Episode: OT - Mentorship for New Grads: Within this particular episode, the host had done a Q&A with questions sent in for the special guest being featured on this episode, Angela Bender. This particular guest had been a pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience under her belt as well as owning her own small pediatric therapy practice in southern Oregon. Some information provided about this particular guest had been that she finds joy in mentoring clinicians who are newly entering the world of pediatric OT. She also helps these clinicians make the transition to being a seasoned pediatric OT in less time, with less risk of burning out in the long run. Her ultimate goal is to create a community that provides mentoring resources and products that solve the problem of limited time and resources for collaboration, job training, and mentoring in healthcare today.
• Reflection: I really enjoyed listening to this podcast because it is not only talking about the good that comes from being an OT but it is also talking about the current issues and struggles those who are newly coming into the profession may face. I also like how they go on to talk about how some individuals out there within the profession already are trying to help those who are starting their careers and journey. It was very enjoyable to listen to and I was not bored at all during the duration of the episode. 

• Background Info: The only information that this podcast had been able to provide their audience with had been that it had been one in which all areas of OT would be explored and talked about.   
• Episode: Episode 42 - Unlocking OT Potential in Criminal Justice System: This episode had been part of a mini-series that the host of this particular podcast had been doing within previous episodes and it is the final episode of the mini-series. Within this episode, the host is joined by Crystal Dieleman who is currently working as an associate professor at Dalhousie University in Canada and has spent most of her career working and researching the areas of Occupational Therapy, mental health, and the criminal justice system. In this episode, Crystal and the host go on to discuss topics such as aging in prison, working in and out of institutional systems, challenging perspectives, and the development of a Justice Based Occupational Therapy Network. 
• Reflection: I really enjoyed listening to this particular podcast because originally, before choosing to pursue being an OT major, I had considered being a criminal justice major. Being able to see the two overlap in some aspects was really interesting to me, intrigued me, and had been able to bring to life a new possibility for my career as an OT in the future. 

• Background Info: Occupational Therapist, Jeff, discusses all things OT within this particular Podcast. He touches upon topics that are important for all within the profession, regardless of their level of expertise. Specifically, he talks about what the profession exactly is, what we can do within the profession, tips and tricks to help with practice, and even the latest OT research available to practitioners.    
• Episode: Episode 1 - What is Occupational Therapy: Within this particular episode, Jeff first starts off his entire platform by discussing and defining what exactly OT is. He then goes on to provide us, the listener, with his definition of what OT is that he gives to those who ask him. He further goes on to describe OT as helping individuals across their lifespan in order to complete the tasks that occupy their time, which we would define as their occupations. Then he finishes up his first episode by giving a general overview of what we as OTs do and how everyone can truly benefit from having an OT in their life.
• Reflection: Although this episode is very short, it is very informative and I truly believe that this would be a great Podcast to start off listening to when trying to decide if OT is the right career path for an individual. This episode is also very informative and provides a clear definition that can be given to others when asked what OTs do and why the profession is so important. Although I already knew all of this information, I feel as though further episodes by this individual would be worth listening to since he is able to describe his thoughts and ideas very clearly and in a way that is easy to understand and is also entertaining as well. 

• Background Info: This particular Podcast is one that helps occupational therapy practitioners that work with older individuals be the best that they can be not only by being able to showcase relevant interviews, answering questions, and providing current articles and hot topics to listeners, but also by getting OT practitioners excited about their work with older adults by providing them with fun and effective ideas that they too can use in their practice.
• Episode: Promoting OT, Advocating and Marketing Our Distinct Value: Within this particular episode, Mandy Chamberlain discusses exactly what we need to do to promote the profession of occupational therapy itself as well as how we would define OT and what exactly it is that we “do” for our patients. She is joined by a fellow podcaster by the name of Brock Cook who also discusses OT on his platform. They then both start off by discussing how they came to be OTs and why they chose this profession over any other possible one before they go on to share ideas and collaborate with one another all while sharing valuable information with us, the listener.
• Reflection: I feel as though this Podcast, specifically this one episode, is very beneficial to listen to not only for those who want to become an OT or are already OTs but also for those who want to understand what exactly the profession is or just simply expand their knowledge. This is truly a great way to inform people about OT and what we do as well as how we can advocate for the profession. The conversation is not boring at all and is very easy to follow and understand. I would recommend any individual who wants to learn more about the profession to listen to this episode of this particular Podcast. I definitely will look into more episodes for this particular Podcast and try to expand my knowledge through the information the host, Mandy Chamberlain, provides. 

This article was published by the National Institute on Aging (NIH) and further explains how we can educate others about Lewy body dementia (LBD), how to adjust expectations when caring for an individual with this particular diagnosis, how to understand behavioral changes that may occur, how to find time for yourself as a caregiver and further discuss the diagnosis with other family members, and finally, make plans for the end of life as it is inevitable. Caring for an individual with LBD requires an individual to take on many new and different responsibilities. One of which that is extremely important to note in case of any sort of emergency is to prepare by compiling a list of the individual with LBD’s medications and dosages; a list of their health conditions, including allergies to medicines or foods; copies of health insurance card(s) and health care advance directives, such as a living will; and contact information for not only doctors but also for family members and friends. All of this information may be extremely helpful in emergencies when healthcare teams may not be extremely familiar with the diagnosis of LBD. As a caregiver, one may also experience a wide range of emotions as they care for their loved one such as anger, impatience, resentment, or even fatigue. Individuals need to recognize their strengths and limitations as well as understand that planning for the future is important but focusing on creating enjoyable and meaningful moments in the present is also equally important for both the caregiver and the individual with LBD. It is also very important for caregivers to understand the different behavioral changes that may accompany this diagnosis such as hallucinations, delusions, pain, illness, stress, or even anxiety, and have strategies to combat these aspects such as making changes to their environment and/or treating medical conditions. Although caregivers spend most of their time caring for their loved one with the LBD diagnosis, it is essential for them to also find time for themselves to not suffer poor sleep patterns, depression, or even illness as a result of their responsibilities themselves. Finally, discussing this particular diagnosis with family as well as making plans for the end of life is very individual to the person, their support system, their wishes, etc. 

Article #2: https://www.lbda.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/causes_of_behavioral_changes_in_lbd.pdf

This article was published by the Lewy body dementia Association (LBDA) and further provides information on possible causes or triggers for behavioral changes that may be present within those with this diagnosis to help those who care for them understand, prevent, or even minimize the symptoms, develop strategies to cope with the changes in behavior and support the individual with LBD and their care team/partners. Some behavioral changes can be attributed to the changes in the brain that go along with the progression of this disease, however, physical or health issues, environmental factors, and social interaction and communication abilities can also all affect the person with LBD’s behavior. There are a variety of health issues that may cause or trigger many of the behavioral changes in LBD and it is imperative to identify if one or more may be the underlying cause. Some of these include extreme fatigue, changes in sleep patterns or sleep-wake cycle, physical discomfort, fever/infections, loss of autonomic functioning (incontinence and dysphagia), Parkinsonism, problems with vision or hearing, and/or medication side effects. As for environmental factors, those such as not enough lighting, too much noise, competing sounds such as TV in the background, an unsafe environment, not enough visual contrast, uncomfortable clothing, etc all can cause behavioral problems to become present in an individual with LBD. Finally, social interaction and communication problems can arise from the individual’s inability to understand when others speak (ex., speaking too quickly, providing too many details, etc), a sense of loss when they are unable to do many activities they used to be able to do, fear, need for attention which can present through emotions such as agitation and aggression, reaction to the negativity around them and their diagnosis, grief, and/or responses to hallucinations and delusions. All of the above-listed factors can and often do contribute to behavioral changes within those with LBD and are therefore important to consider and understand how to combat. With the help of this information sheet, caregivers, whether they be loved ones or a professional health care team, can figure out ways to best address any element that may cause a behavioral change in the individual with LBD and further develop strategies to address them in a safe and effective way.

Article #3: https://www.lbda.org/diet-and-exercise-as-lbd-progresses/#:~:text=Suggest%20easy%20playing%20seated%20games,blood%20flow%20through%20gentle%20massage.

This article was published by the Lewy body dementia Association (LBDA) and further discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and staying physically active as LBD progresses since it can be a challenge for some. Motivation and following instructions often are more difficult for those who have declining cognitive skills and mood changes. Balance, flexibility, and muscle tone may also be affected by movement symptoms. As dementia, regardless of the type, progresses an individual’s preference for certain foods may change and aspects such as malnutrition, weight loss, and dehydration may occur as well. In the early stages of LBD, it is important to maintain a healthy diet as food is not just calories for them but it also holds a nutritional value that can help maintain their health in several different ways. Exercise in the early stages also helps build muscle and cardiovascular strength which can further help with balance and potentially minimize fall risk. In the middle stages of LBD, increasing confusion and/or behavioral changes can often lead to resistance to care. At this point in the disease, it may be best to take a more relaxed approach to diet and exercise. Gently encouraging healthy choices by continuing to provide them with well-balanced meals as well as making sure to respect their wishes as their appetite may change can be helpful. Here it may be beneficial to also offer them opportunities to exercise followed by an activity they enjoy or a special treat. It is important to not pressure them to do anything and further respect their wishes so they do not become angry or agitated. As dementia becomes more advanced, comfort care should be the number one priority of caregivers. When it comes to nutrition, it is important to just make sure they are consuming an adequate number of calories and fluids rather than the perfect balance of nutrition. Further arranging exercises to take place with a friend or loved one may help them in a social aspect as well. However, if exercise is not enjoyable at all to the individual with LBD, as a caregiver you can still provide them comfort and help stimulate their blood flow through a gentle massage. Essentially, as the disease progresses and symptoms worsen the caregiver needs to make sure that their loved one or patient is as comfortable as possible and feels as though they have control of their life, what they do, and what they eat. 

AOTA Link & APA Citation: 

https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot

What is occupational therapy?. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). (n.d.). https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot

Why Me & Sherry’s House is a non-profit organization based in Worcester, MA that supports families who are facing a childhood cancer diagnosis. It was started by a 13-year-old girl named Sherry Shepherd in 1985 while she was going through her own cancer journey. The name “Why Me” stands for Worcester Help for Youth, Memories Everlasting, which really speaks to their mission of offering emotional, physical, and financial support to families—from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. They provide a wide range of services, including housing through Sherry’s House, which is a home-away-from-home for families who need to stay close to the hospital during their child’s treatment. Families can stay there for free, and the house includes bedrooms, common areas, and even a playroom. In addition, Why Me offers peer support groups, bereavement support, family events, meals, a food pantry, and programs that give kids and teens a sense of normalcy during such a tough time. There are a lot of ways to get involved, including volunteering, fundraising, or donating. Volunteers can help with meal prep, childcare, events, or general house support. You can also join their mailing list to stay in the loop about upcoming opportunities or community events. To volunteer, you need to be at least 16 years old and complete a short application. There’s also an interview and orientation, plus a background check (CORI). Depending on what kind of volunteer work you're doing, there might be a bit of training involved—but it’s all manageable, and staff are super supportive.

Link: https://www.netofcompassion.org

Net of Compassion is a Worcester-based nonprofit founded in 2010 by Pastor Richie Gonzalez and his wife, Elizabeth. After overcoming his own struggles with addiction and homelessness, Pastor Richie began by handing out sandwiches to those in need. This simple act of kindness has since grown into a comprehensive support network for individuals facing homelessness, addiction, and poverty in our community. They offer several services including Meals on Main Street, Grace Pantry and Grace Closet (groceries and clothing), Hotel Grace (a seasonal shelter), Joshua’s Showers (a mobile hygiene unit), and peer-led recovery supports. These programs help individuals meet basic needs while also offering opportunities for long-term stability and support. To get involved, volunteers can sign up for roles at the food pantry (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays), the clothing pantry (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), and Meals on Main Street (Saturdays). There are also seasonal opportunities at Hotel Grace. Volunteers are expected to be reliable, open-minded, and compassionate, and depending on the role, may need some orientation or training.

Reflection:
Both of these organizations serve vulnerable populations where occupational therapy services—like caregiver support, routine building, mental health resources, or community reintegration—could have a meaningful impact. Exploring these volunteer opportunities helped me think more critically about how OT skills can be used outside of traditional settings and gave me a deeper appreciation for community-centered care.