If the Shoe (Box) Fits!

 As occupational therapists, a large part of our job is creativity. We get to think of individualized plans and adaptations for our clients daily. Recently, we were assigned the task of creating an assistive device or intervention for a client using common house-hold items. 

    My client is a 51-year-old female diagnosed with secondary-progressive Multiple Sclerosis. She lives in a two-story home with the master suite on the second floor. Due to the progression of her disease, this client has several safety concerns. She experiences extreme fatigue and has recently had several falls. 

    To help my client conserve energy and reduce her fall risk, I created a shoe box organizer. The organizer was divided into several compartments and can store the client's frequently used items. Examples of items included in my model are a remote, scissors, pens/pencils, medication, snacks, water, glasses, and a notebook/sticky notes. Keeping these items organized and close to the client will reduce her number of steps around the house. By reducing her steps, I hope to conserve some of her energy and prevent falling while she is home alone. Since her bedroom is on the second level of her home, she can put items needed from her bedroom into the shoe box. This will also reduce the number of times she will need to take the stairs.

    The shoe box organizer primarily serves as an assistive device. However, if the client is able and enjoys crafts, making the organizer could serve as a fun intervention. Materials used include the shoe box and lid, scissors, empty toilet paper rolls, hot glue, and scrapbook paper (optional). I began by cutting the box lid to make dividers for the inside. You can make as many or as few dividers as needed. I used the toilet paper rolls to hold pens and other small utensils. Next, I glued the dividers and rolls onto the inside of the empty shoe box. Lastly, I decorated the outside of the box with scrapbook paper to dress it up a bit. The entire process took approximately 20 minutes, and this activity can easily be adapted per the client's needs and abilities. 

Note: In addition to fatigue, a common symptom of MS is muscle weakness. Weakness in the hands is especially common. Handles can be cut into the sides of the shoe box for easy grasping. I did not include handles in this model, but it would be a simple adaptation if needed.