Occupation

Abstracts
Posters
wellbeing, the key components of occupational balance remain
elusive (Anaby et al 2010). This systematic literature review
draws together exisiting research in order to address this gap in
our professional knowledge.
The databases AMED, CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE and PsychINFO
were searched for papers using the keywords occupational
balance and lifestyle balance. Another phrase, life balance was
included in the search, combined with occupational therapy
because of the multitude of business and psychology papers
using this term. This resulted in 95 papers.
Criteria for inclusion were that research studies were reported
in English and published in peer-reviewed occupational therapy/
science journals. Studies could include participants who
identified as healthy or living with physical or psychiatric illness.
This resulted in a total of 17 research papers.
Four themes emerged from the research papers as key
components of occupational balance: Health and Wellbeing
Ammount and Variation Time, Rhythm and Tempo and Meaning
and Control.
In summary, creating a good occupational pattern in order to
fulfil one’s needs for meaning, challenge, productivity, healthy
relationships and fun is key to achieving balance. Psychological
strategies are helpful in maintaining a positive and flexible
attitute and being aware of one’s balance status as it shifts
from day to day enables one to stay resilient and adapt more
sucessfully to change.
It is essential to identify a variety of occupations that are
meaningful to the individual and these should be considered
contextually when used as therapy. Individual strategies that
support resilience such as flexibility, adaptability and a positive
attitude must also be promoted by the occupational therapist.
References
Westhorp P (2003) Exploring balance as a concept in
occupational science. Journal of Occupational Science, 10 (2),
99–106.
Anaby D R, Backman C L and Jarus T (2010) Measuring
occupational balance: A theoretical exploration of two
approaches. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77 (5),
280–288.
Keywords
Mental health, Research, Occupational science, Education
Contact E-mail Addresses
s.j.bodell@salford.ac.uk
Author Biographies
Ashley Bilen is an occupational therapist and research assistant.
Ashley is part of a team working on the development of
Occubuzz, an app to promote occupational balance and
wellbeing.
Sarah Bodell is a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the
University of Salford. She is co-developer of Occubuzz, an app to
promote occupational balance and wellbeing.
P102
Treasures untold: exploring the impact and
interventions of hoarding behaviours
Dowdeswell J, Singleton Y, Orbit Living
The most recent addition to the Diasgnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) (APA, 2013) includes
hoading disorder as a mental health condition. Recent
amendements to the UK Care Act, 2014 include self neglect,
encompassing individuals who hoard but the challenge for
professionals in knowing how to act. The hoarding service
aims to address the debilitating hoarding tendencies have
upon vulnerable individuals, their family, their friends and the
environment.
Through partnership with Coventry University, Orbit Care &
Repair Coventry (OCR) and Orbit Community Investment, a
frontline workers toolkit (based upon occupational therapy(OT
theory and principles) was developed and implemented to
address the many cases of hoarding that OCR encountered
within the community. The toolkit has been trialled with service
user engagement with positive outcomes.
The service aims, reducing:
• The impacts of hoarding on individual’s physical and mental
well being
• The risk of falls, fire and self neglect
• Social isolation
• The impact on the local community
• The cost to local authorities and services
Clients have made breakthroughs in dealing with their hoarding
tendencies through therapeutic interventions: one-to-one
sessions, clearing space, discarding unwanted items without
judgement and in a safe and controlled way.
The service has been built upon a foundation of OT values,
empowering the client to make their house a home again
through occupationally focussed interventions. This service has
been implemented within the UK.
The poster aims to:
• Dispel the sensationalism created in media and television
documentaries
• Increase understanding of the complexities of compulsive
hoarding
By demonstrating:
• Application of the core values of OT throughout the service
• The importance of developing a therapeutic client centred
relationship
• Sharing real life case studies
References
American Psychiatric Association (2013), Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (5th Edition).
Care Act 2014 [online] http://www.legislation.gov.uk/
ukdsi/2015/9780111128626/pdfs/ukdsi_9780111128626_
en.pdf accessed 12/09/2015
Keywords
Mental health, Service improvement or transformation, New or
emerging roles, Independent Sector
Contact E-mail Addresses
care&repairhoardingservice@orbit.org.uk
Author Biographies
Johanna Dowdeswell graduated in 2013 as an occupational
therapist. She has volunteered with YMCA, working with young
people on engagement and project development. She is a
specialist Occupational Therapist Hoarding Caseworker.
Yvonne Singleton is a recent graduate from Coventry University
2015, gaining a BSc Hons degree in Occpuational Therapy. She
is a specialist Occupational Therapist Hoarding Caseworker.
Previously Yvonne has worked in the mental health field:
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