Keeping people safe: Occupational Therapy and the Fire Service

Occupational therapist Lyndsay Beck explains why her team are working with the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, to help older people stay safe and independent.

I am an occupational therapist at Nottinghamshire Healthcare and I work with older adults with mental health needs, such as depression and dementia. An occupational therapist’s role is to help people to carry on with the activities which they need and want to do.

It may seem like an unlikely combination, but my colleagues and I have been working closely with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service. You may be wondering why? It’s because often the older people we work with – who may be isolated and have poor mental and/or physical health - are the types of people who are most likely to be affected by fire. Fires related to heating and cooking appliances are the most common in Nottinghamshire.

Life after Rio

Earlier in the year we heard from paediatric physiotherapist Julie Gray, who was looking forward to being part of the Rio Paralympics. Julie went to Rio as the Head of Classification for the International Canoe Federation (ICF). Now she's settled back in to normal life, we asked her about her experiences.

What was the atmosphere like?

The atmosphere in the athlete’s village and in Rio was joyous. The Brazilian people were so friendly and welcoming, and the Carioca spirit covers every aspect of daily life. They want to share it with all their guests, to help them to feel a little of the sheer joy of living, and to take it away with them to wherever they are going in the world.