OTconnected

03/16/2026

🐾 Love Your Pet? Add a Bell.

No one is getting rid of their pets. Let’s be clear about that.

But people do trip over them. Especially the small ones.

When pets get underfoot—particularly if you have changes in vision or hearing—it’s easy to miss them. They move quickly. They’re quiet. And if you’re not actively looking down, you may not realize they’re right behind you until it’s too late.

Here’s a simple, low-cost fix:
Put a bell on their collar.

That tiny sound adds an extra layer of awareness. You’ll hear them approaching, crossing behind you, or walking into your path. That split second of notice gives you time to pause, step aside, or gently guide them out of the way.

It’s not about changing your home. It’s not about changing your pet.
It’s about adding one small safety layer that can prevent a major fall.

Simple. Affordable. Effective.

🎧 Follow the CareLab Podcast for more expert-backed guidance on caregiving, aging, serious illness, and making empowered healthcare decisions.

03/14/2026

Think Your Shower Is Too Small for a Shower Chair? Think Again 🚿

One of the most common concerns we hear: “My shower isn’t big enough for a shower chair.”

In reality, very few showers truly can’t accommodate some type of seat. Shower chairs come in a wide range of sizes and designs. While models with arms and backs provide extra support, there are also compact, sturdy options without those features that fit neatly against the back wall of smaller showers.

The key is finding the right chair for your body and your space.

And if space is extremely limited? A fold-down shower seat can be a game-changer. These seats mount to the wall and stay folded up most of the time. When you need to rest, simply flip it down and sit safely.

Planning ahead with the right setup helps conserve energy, reduce fall risk, and make bathing safer—without sacrificing space.

🎧 Follow the CareLab Podcast for more expert-backed guidance on caregiving, aging, serious illness, and making empowered healthcare decisions.

03/13/2026

Are Throw Rugs Worth the Risk? Here’s the Honest Conversation 🏠

We know. You love your rugs. They’re beautiful, meaningful, and have probably been in your home for decades. We’re not here to criticize your décor.

But throw rugs—no matter how long they’ve been there—are raised surfaces sitting on top of another surface. And if every edge isn’t completely secured (which is nearly impossible), there’s always a risk your toe can catch the edge and cause a stumble.

Here’s the part most people don’t talk about: your home may not have changed… but your body has. Balance, strength, reaction time, and vision naturally shift over time. What felt safe 10 or 20 years ago may not be as forgiving today.

The safest option? Remove throw rugs.

If that feels impossible, at least secure them properly to reduce edge lift.
It’s not about taking away comfort—it’s about protecting your independence.

🎧 Follow the CareLab Podcast for more expert-backed guidance on caregiving, aging, serious illness, and making empowered healthcare decisions.

03/11/2026

Many occupational therapists are already sitting on ideas that could become programs, products, or digital offers — but turning those ideas into income takes more than motivation. It takes clarity, validation, and a realistic approach.

If you’re thinking about building beyond 1:1 sessions, it’s important to understand the shift happening right now: we’re in a knowledge economy where people pay for outcomes, not just time. That means validating ideas before building, turning real client results into clear frameworks, pricing based on transformation, and keeping systems simple in the beginning.

This process takes time, but it’s absolutely doable — with the right guidance.

For a full, step-by-step breakdown, watch the complete video on our AskSAMIE YouTube channel.
And if you want ongoing support heading into 2026 — including policy updates, practical systems, and a community of OTs building thoughtfully — join us inside OT Connected.

03/07/2026

You know that when someone is living with dementia, a full plate can feel overwhelming. In this clip, we share one of the most powerful (and practical) strategies: simplify the plate.

This is a great video to share with a client to make it easier to understand how to simplify the plate to facilitate more intake with less help.

Small adjustments can protect nutrition, independence, and dignity—one simplified plate at a time.

🎧 Follow the CareLab Podcast for more expert-backed guidance on caregiving, aging, serious illness, and making empowered healthcare decisions.

03/05/2026

When Is a Slide Board the Right Move? Here’s How to Know 🪑➡️🚗

Transfers aren’t always straightforward—especially when you can’t get surfaces close enough together to safely stand and pivot. That’s where a slide board can make all the difference.

If there’s a gap you can’t safely “bridge” — like during certain car transfers when the door limits positioning, or toilet transfers where space is tight — a slide board creates a stable pathway from one surface to another.

Instead of forcing a risky stand, a slide board supports a smoother, safer seated transfer. It’s not about doing more. It’s about using the right tool at the right time to reduce strain and prevent falls.

Smart strategies protect both the caregiver and the person receiving care.

🎧 Follow the CareLab Podcast for more expert-backed guidance on caregiving, aging, serious illness, and making empowered healthcare decisions.

03/02/2026

The $0 Caregiving Hack Hiding in Your Linen Closet

Sometimes the best caregiving tools aren’t fancy—they’re already in your linen closet.

In this clip, we break down one simple hack that can make a huge difference: the draw sheet. And no—it doesn’t have to be a special medical sheet. Just fold a regular sheet in half (think “taco” or “hamburger” style), roll your loved one gently to place it underneath, and use it to safely reposition them.

A folded draw sheet helps you move someone up in bed, side to side, and even assist with rolling for hygiene care after toileting or during bed baths. It reduces friction on their skin and strain on your back—making care safer, smoother, and more dignified for everyone involved.

Small technique. Big impact. That’s how we care smarter.

🎧 Follow the CareLab Podcast for more expert-backed guidance on caregiving, aging, serious illness, and making empowered healthcare decisions.

02/25/2026

Starting an OT business in 2026? These five mistakes trip up more new OT entrepreneurs than anything else — trying to serve everyone, undercharging, doing everything alone, ignoring marketing and community, and thinking too small.

The good news is you don’t have to learn these lessons the hard way. Systems, mentorship, and clear strategy make all the difference when you’re building something sustainable.

If you want to stay ahead in 2026, watch the full breakdown on our OT Connected YouTube channel - where OTs learn how to build smarter, not busier.

Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/EdPZD9IPjBo?si=7D82OPZNGxN0WT42

Thinking about starting your own OT business but feeling overwhelmed, second-guessing yourself, or comparing yourself to everyone else on Instagram? You’re n...

02/18/2026

Occupational therapists don’t lack ideas — they lack permission.

Permission to try something new.
Permission to charge for expertise.
Permission to build outside the systems they were trained in.

That hesitation isn’t about skill or readiness. It comes from years of being taught to wait, to ask for approval, or to stay within narrow definitions of what OT work is “supposed” to look like.

But the truth is, OTs already see the gaps.
They already understand the problems.
They already have the expertise to create better solutions.

The work now is giving yourself permission to start.

If this resonates, save this video and follow OT Connected by AskSAMIE for more conversations about turning OT expertise into sustainable, ethical businesses.

01/28/2026

If you’re an OT who’s tired of watching unsafe equipment get normalized,
you’re not alone.

👉 Follow OT Connected by AskSAMIE for real conversations about practice, ethics, and doing better for clients.

CTA for AskSAMIE Product Shop:

This is exactly why we don’t leave safety to guesswork.

👉 Shop OT-approved adaptive equipment at AskSAMIE.com — curated for real life, not trends.

LINK for Facebook and Linkedin: https://www.asksamie.com/collections

01/27/2026

Thinking about starting your own OT business but scared you’re not ready? Every OT founder starts in that exact place — uncertain, but willing.

Your fear doesn’t mean you’re incapable. It means you’re growing. And the skills that make you a great therapist are the same skills that will make you a great founder.

Start small. Take one step. Talk to someone who’s doing what you want to do. Write down the idea that excites you. You're not leaving OT — you're leading it forward.

Ready to explore what’s next?
Join OT Connected to learn, grow, and build with support.

01/16/2026

A few years into your OT career, you start to see it…The system is broken. The burnout is real. And the impact you know you can make feels limited.

So, you start thinking: Should I build my own practice?

Here’s the truth — if that desire is showing up, it’s important you listen to it.

OTs building practices isn’t leaving healthcare… it’s transforming it.

You’re allowed to create something that aligns with your values, your clients, and your vision.

You’re allowed to expand your purpose. 💛✨Join OT Connected Today!
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