Hi there and welcome to OT Flourish!

My name is Mandy Chamberlain MOTR/L, occupational therapist.

Healthcare can be impersonal.

One of the reasons I became an occupational therapist was to help people.

It is in my soul.

It was my own grandpa, a special man we called “Gramps,” who actually introduced me to this amazing career through his own challenging journey.

Gramp’s Accidental Inspiration

After my grandma passed away, Gramps was having more and more difficulty taking care of himself at his own home and living 2 1/2 hours away, it was difficult for my parents to help him out as they had 4 young kids of their own. He could get dressed, meet up with his friends for coffee and get around the house, but it was the little things that he started having problems with – cooking meals, bathing, paying his bills and taking care of the ice out the front door caused by the harsh Minnesota winters.

After lots of convincing, he decided to move to my family’s hobby farm in North Dakota with the agreement that he had his own space. My parents were on a mission to find something perfect for him and they found it – a small trailer home that they moved onto their 10 acre hobby farm.

We cleaned it,  fixed it and decorated it. The bathroom had touches of fire engine red – his favorite color.

It was his space. His home. HIS.

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Gramps holding a duckling – so sweet!

He enjoyed his independence and never wanted to impose – he actually only came to our house for dinner each night. He was a man that devoured Louis L’amour western books, loved playing the harmonica, watching Lawrence Welk, joking around and eating asparagus.  

He loved his family and we loved him!

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After living with us for a while, Gramps ended up having a massive CVA resulting in hemiglegia.

His body changed. His personality changed. He changed.

He was flaccid on his left side and being a big man, it was physically impossible for my parents to take care of him and he moved into a skilled nursing facility. His independence was taken away and his life had changed in a flash!

I watched him go through rehabilitation with little success physically, but I saw the successes, determination and independence that other people at the nursing home where experiencing – it ignited a fire!

I truly believe that an occupational therapist has a unique perspective in the realm of healthcare. We partner science, creativity and practical solutions to life’s problems by focusing on patients as a person,  not just a diagnosis.

OT Flourish’s goal is to join the two by giving occupational therapy practitioners and students practical advice, recommendations, education and resources that you can use today.

Over the years of my professional career, I have had the privilege to be able to serve and help so many people and their families lead more meaningful lives and I will continue to do this through OT Flourish.

I want to connect with you and help you FLOURISH in your practice.

I’m so glad you are here!

I am grateful that I can help you in your OT journey, as I love being an occupational therapist and I hope it shows.

I hope OT Flourish can help you feel empowered, informed and connected by keeping the care in healthcare.

I am here to support you on your OT journey.

Let’s do this together and keep spreading the #OTlove!

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Mandy Chamberlain MOTR/L

Founder of OT Flourish

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