Page 22 - North Haven Magazine Issue 29 Summer 2023

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare’s
North Haven Campus

Occupational Therapy

by Meghan Chiaraluce

My name is Meghan Chiaraluce. I work, play and live in North Haven. I am an
occupational therapist by trade and work at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare’s North Haven
campus.

aylord Specialty Healthcare has been tion, or even hot wax (paraffin) while si-
Gproviding long term acute care to the multaneously figuring out the best way to
community from Wallingford since 1902. help you get back to doing what you need
Over the past decade, Gaylord has expand- to do day-to-day. This may be adapting the
ed its outpatient therapy services from activity or teaching you a new way to do
Wallingford to North Haven, Cheshire, it or suggesting gadgets (adaptive equip-
Cromwell and Madison. Outpatient ther- ment) to help you get the job done.
apy is when you are home and can drive to
a location to receive your therapy services.
But, there is something special about the
North Haven campus. Not only is it the
largest of the outpatient therapy branch-
es, very accessible on Devine Street (off
of State Street) and has a full neurological
therapy team (meaning there are not just
physical therapists, but also occupational
therapists and speech-language patholo-
gists), it’s the only place you will find me!
What is occupational therapy?
I’ll share an example. I once had a lovely
I was taught in grad school to be prepared patient who gave me a run for my money!
to have an “elevator definition” of what oc- She was quick witted and her energy was
cupational therapy is. You know, a quick contagious, but her hands lacked sensation
shpiel you would deliver to a stranger in and were weak. Every mundane activity
an elevator. And I was taught to never that you or I would take for granted was
compare it to physical therapy as we are near impossible and frustrating for her.
our own profession, with our own level of She had difficulty using her hands to get
expertise. So, here’s mine: “The term occu- dressed, type on her computer, which she
pational therapy comes from helping any- needed for work, and to manipulate ob-
one who has deficits in things that ‘occupy’ jects when she was trying to make a meal
their time throughout the day. We are spe- for herself. One day, she expressed her a sharp tongue (with my wit), a listening
cialists in task analysis”. frustration at being unable to close a bread ear and keen eye to notice progress. I wish
bag using a twist tie. I told her a trick— everyone health after our previous “un-
ditch the tie and twist the bag a couple of precedented times”, but if you ever have
times and fold it over the bread. She loved any therapy needs come find me (with a
it! She shared the tip with friends! But doctor’s referral first) at Gaylord Specialty
most importantly, she gained control and Healthcare’s North Haven Campus located
confidence in a previously daunting task. on 8 Devine Street. In the meantime, try
That contagious energy spilled over into the bread bag trick!
excitement and gratitude.
I absolutely love my job and find it very Editor's Note - the "lovely" patient was
rewarding. I love interacting with others, me! Megan was amazing. I had so much
hearing their personal stories, making trouble with EVERYTHING! Still do,
connections and finding out what day-to- but she taught me how to be visual so
day activities are truly important to them. I I didn't hurt myself. She taught me pa-
love measuring progress not by how much tience, how to hold a knife correctly so
The most common reasons I see patients weight they can lift in therapy or the gym, I could eat steak. Sounds small, but it
are from recovery from stroke, spinal cord but if they were able to tie their shoes, fas- meant the world to me. She used a piece
injury/surgery, post-concussion, arthritis/ ten their bra, open the pickle jar, return to of equipment, I called it pirate's knife.
limited joint mobility, or deconditioning driving, or close the bread bag. These are She was fun, friendly, encouraging and
from disease (i.e., post COVID, MS, Par- all very real goals patients I know and care so professional. She is now a forever
kinson’s). My job is to help strengthen for are working towards. friend. I'm sure you'll meet her at an
the areas that are weak, which sometime event. She'd make a great elf!
means playing with fancy tools such as Whether you need a cheerleader or a re-
massage instruments, electrical stimula- alist, I’m your girl. I’ve been told I have

North Haven Magazine - Summer Issue 2023
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