Laura Juel

Caring.com Expert

About

Laura Juel is an Occupational Therapist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, and an Adjunct Lecturer in the Graduate Occupational Science program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist in the Duke Driving Program with a clinical interest in evaluating the older driver and community mobility. She has 20 years of experience working with adults with neurological illness and injuries. She earned her B.S. in Rehabilitation Science from Springfield College and a M.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Laura lives with her husband and 3 children in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Laura is actively working with family members as they navigate through the health care system with diagnoses dementia. She is experiencing first hand her own emotional stress as well as the challenges of communicating with family and caregivers while providing support from a distance.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Friday July 29, 2011

    1. Should I help my dad reinstate his driving privileges?

      Answer - It sounds like your dad is grieving about his inability to drive. He probably feels a loss of his independence but on the other hand, down deep, he may acknowledge that he has some issues that may preclude him from safely driving. I would let your dad take the lead if he wants to reinstate his driving privileges...

  2. Tuesday July 05, 2011

    1. What are the liability issues of someone driving with Parkinson's disease?

      Answer - Department of Motor Vehicles reporting guidelines vary with each state. Most states require that you report any changes in your physical, visual or cognitive abilities. When a person or a health care professional reports to DMV,a Medical Review Committee evaluate a person's condition and ability to safely operate a motor vehicle...

  3. Wednesday May 25, 2011

    1. How can you stop driving with out giving up your privacy and independence?

      Answer - This is always a tough subject as our independence is so closely associated with our ability to drive. Balancing a persons wishes/desires with safety can be a tough call for family members. I would explore options for a personal driver that he is free to contact and arrange his appointments/outings...

  4. Thursday February 18, 2010

    1. Is it safe to put an elderly person in a car with an airbag?...

      Answer - I think the importance of having an elderly loved one have continued access to health care outweighs the risk of airbag injuries. There are things you can do to minimize the risk of injury. If the elderly family member must sit in the front seat, push the seat back to a position that is farthest from the dashboard...

  5. Wednesday February 03, 2010

    1. How can I convince my mother to move to a safer place near me?

      Answer - Many adult children are going through this same complex scenario -- when do I step in to help a parent who's living alone?

  6. Tuesday July 07, 2009

    1. What to do when client refuses range of motion therapy?

      Answer - Range of motion exercises are usually necessary to regain motion or prevent futher loss of motion. They can be very mundane for both the client and caregiver. As a therapist, I make a point to explain why these exercises are important, i.e. if you lose more shoulder movement, it will become more difficult to dress yourself...

  7. Thursday May 21, 2009

    1. How can I help my dad become independent of care?

      Answer - I would talk with the occupational and physical therapist from his rehab setting to get an idea of the amount of assistance and best approach for him to carry out his self care tasks. It would also be helpful to find out how much help is provided in the assisted living facility...

  8. Saturday March 07, 2009

    1. Is there any law in South Carolina regarding restriction of driving after a stroke?

      Answer - South Carolina does not require a physician to notify DMV when a patient has had a stroke but they will accept information sent in. Once a person's name is submitted to the DMV, and they have a new medical condition, they will most likely be turned over to the Medical Advisory Board...

  9. Friday March 06, 2009

    1. What exercises can I do to help with weight loss after a stroke?

      Answer - Strokes affect people in different ways; most people experience some degree of weakness in either their arm/leg or both. This weakness, even if mild, can throw off a person's balance making them increased risk for falls. Weakness can also cause you to overuse your stronger side of the body which could...

  10. Monday November 10, 2008

    1. How can I get my mother to clean up after her pets?

      Answer - If the litter box is not an issue for your mother, then chances are she is not going to change her behavior. I recommend that you look into some specialized odor control cat litter to help reduce the odors. Some cat litter is flushable, so if the box is located in the bathroom with a scoop and a reminder...

    2. How can I help my mother deal with her pain and keep her from driving?

      Answer - This is where you need to enlist the help of the physician who is providing the prescriptions.  Your mother's mild dementia and frequent falls can certainly be made worse by her medications. Most pain pills have caution labels for driving due to their sedative side effect...

  11. Thursday August 28, 2008

    1. How can I help my father, who is a hoarder, clear out his house so that it is not a hazard?

      Answer - Hoarding is defined as the excessive collection of items that seem to have limited or zero value. When a person like your father has reached the point where he is endangering himself, it may be difficult to correct the problem -- particularly if he does not acknowledge that his behavior is a problem at all...