Coronavirus: Therapists take action against fear and isolation. To transform a crisis into an opportunity.

A team of 20 occupational therapists is available, free of charge and online, to provide personal support services: activities for autistic children, support for people with disabilities, stress management, and even physical therapy. To help find new resources in the midst of a crisis.

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occupational therapists COVID-19 emergency

Resilience. A word used and abused, often inappropriately, but which indicates, in these difficult times, one of the most important characteristics we can, and must, deploy: the ability to face and overcome a traumatic event or a difficult period. In Japan, an infinitely more poetic land, the symbol and metaphor of this ability is a vase whose cracks are filled with precious metals, giving it new life and a new, even more precious form. It is the art of kintsugi, and is born from the idea that from a wound an even greater form of aesthetic and interior perfection can be born.

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OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS COVID-19 EMERGENCY

To this, the Dr. Alessandra Palieri, an occupational therapist specializing in relaxation and hypnosis, is a firm believer, so much so that she's decided to use all her professional skills to help those who, in this challenging time, find themselves abandoned and alone. Everyone, free of charge.

From those with pre-existing conditions that have been significantly exacerbated by the lockdown and the inability to physically receive necessary therapies, to those suffering from period-related sleep disorders, to families with autistic children or those requiring physiotherapy or postural advice due to the increased use of computers and phones, in some cases.

So, with a few phone calls, she decided to tenaciously set up a group of occupational therapists willing to treat patients completely free of charge. They cover the entire spectrum of healthcare professions, with diverse backgrounds, ranging from psychiatric rehabilitation techniques to maternity support skills.

Around twenty therapists have joined the Facebook group TO Emergency (which literally translates to Occupational Therapy for Emergencies), spread across the country, offering consultations via video call, phone, or WhatsApp, in a wide range of settings, for all age groups, from preschoolers to seniors who are struggling with isolation.

Alzheimer's, dementia, autism spectrum disorders, orthopedic issues, insomnia, visual or sensory disabilities: for every problem, TO Emergency, after an initial contact, responds to the corresponding therapist, who is available to offer support services to the person. These services, however, are aimed not only at "buffering" the emergency, but also at providing the person in need with new tools and resources for future use.

A fundamental approach for TO Emergency therapists is an integrated approach that combines the physical and physical aspects with psychological and spiritual support, understood as a search for balance and well-being. Requesting a consultation is very simple: simply initiate an initial consultation by contacting the group through the dedicated communication channels.

TO KNOW MORE: Coronavirus: Online psychologists to combat panic, fear, and isolation. Free (video)

CORONAVIRUS TELEMEDICINE

The group, which works in close collaboration with the National Association, despite some initial difficulties, is constantly growing: every day, new therapists apply to volunteer, and new projects are underway to support motherhood and parenting, all focused on mental training and the union of theory and practice. Theoretical resources and skills from applied healthcare professions are channeled into manual, recreational, and everyday activities. For occupational therapists, doing is medicine, equipping them with new tools that are also useful in the post-emergency period. As the name itself suggests, occupational therapy (OT), also known as ergotherapy, is a rehabilitative discipline that aims to develop, recover, or maintain the daily and work-related skills of people with cognitive, physical, or mental disabilities or those with temporary challenges. Occupational therapy is achieved through targeted activities, working closely with physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychotherapists, midwives, caregivers, and nurses.

Always keeping in mind the psychological aspect, the resilience, the ability that each of us has to find the resources to face any eventuality.

(Featured image from the Facebook group TO Emergency To contact the team, please refer to the group itself.)

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