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Carol 1st Jul 2014 Therapy assistant
Hi everyone.
I work as a TA in a care facility in Australia with residents who have various illness and disabilities. A number of our male residents  are retired trades men physically able to a great extent.  We recently acquired some battery operated power tools which include a sander, jigsaw and drill. Our residents and TA's  were really excited about this as we planned to use their life skills to make some creative art work and picture frames using the power tools 1-1 . Now Our organizations OSH have got involved and we look as though residents may not be allowed to use the tools . 
My question is to other TA's in Australia. 
Do you have woodworking groups,
do your clients use power tools and to what extent. 
We realize there need to be guide lines in place and limitations of use but really want our residents to get maximum participation. 
Any feed back to this would be appreciated.
Sue 8th Jul 2014 aged day care co-ordinator
Sue 8-7-14
I am an aged daycare co ordinator and am having the same issues with clients using the kitchen.
We should stop paying lip service to the "enablement" philosophy and respect each persons right to be as vital and viable as possible.
Even those who are seriously affected by dementia can remember how to use a tea towel, this activity often leads to conversations about their lives and experiences. Supervision rather than restriction should be the aim. Let "us" be loved and valued for who we are and not restricted because of the perception of others.

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