For seniors, staying independent keeps requiring more and more effort. Everyday tasks that are carried out everyday like getting dressed or cooking or just moving around the house can become difficult, gradually. That’s where occupational therapy is helpful. In relation to home care, occupational therapy (OT) can literally be a game changer in giving seniors independence and improving their quality of life.
So then what exactly does an occupational therapist do for seniors? Let’s explore how OT can help seniors at home with daily life activities to make their lives easier and more fulfilling.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is about helping people do things that are important and usually necessary as a part of their day to day life. And for seniors, these can be as basic as bathing and dressing, or can get much more complex like managing medications, or preparing meals. The goal of OT is to improve the quality of care for older adults with physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges in such a way that they can live as independently and safely as possible.
Promoting Independence in Daily Living
One of the biggest things that occupational therapy can do for a senior, is help them maintain or regain the ability to do daily tasks on their own. They can help with tasks like brushing teeth, using the bathroom, writing a grocery list, etc, which, on the surface, are ordinary low effort tasks that are usually taken for granted. For people with lost mobility, strength or mental acuity, these activities can be too much.
Senior occupational therapists work one-on-one with seniors to identify what they’re struggling with and then try to come up with strategies to help them deal with it. It may be teaching new techniques, recommending specific tools (such as grab bars or adaptive utensils) or setting up home for greater age friendliness.
Improving Mobility and Balance
For seniors, falls are a major problem because they can result in serious injury and take a long time to recover. Occupational therapists play a key role in fall prevention. An OT can assess a senior’s home environment and physical abilities in order to suggest modifications that might reduce fall risks such as removing tripping hazards or increasing ramp capabilities.
Apart from home adjustments, occupational therapists work with seniors to help them with their balance and mobility. This may include specific exercises (usually designed to make muscles stronger and more coordinated, and to reduce the likelihood of falls). Whether it’s walking up a stairway or just getting up from a chair, seniors get more comfortable when they’re regularly getting therapy.
Helping Seniors Recover from Illness or Injury
The transition back to daily life is difficult for seniors recovering from illness, surgery, or an injury. Often, it is occupational therapy that helps one recover. The therapist helps the elderly rebuild strength and regain mobility and relearn important skills that illness or a hospital stay might have taken away.
A senior who may have had a stroke, for example, may be required to learn to use one side of their body again to be able to regain the coordination necessary to perform tasks like shirt buttoning or usage of kitchen appliances, etc. Occupational therapists are trained to help create targeted exercises and therapy plans that will help seniors recover and as much self reliance as possible.
When Is Occupational Therapy Right for Seniors?
Your loved one might be having difficulty with everyday tasks or recovering from an illness, or maybe they just need a bit of help in adapting to physical or cognitive changes. For them, occupational therapy may be the best choice. It’s a personalized approach that isn’t just about the medical aspects of rehabilitation for a person; it’s also about how they can support the person as a whole in their unique home environment.
How 1st Care Community Can Help
At 1st Care Community, we understand that every senior has different needs, and our professional caregivers interact with occupational therapists to deliver complete support at home. Whether it’s helping with mobility, home modifications, or keeping seniors active and engaged we will make sure that your loved one continues to remain independent, with quality of life.
Ready to find out more about occupational therapy and Home Care Services to help your loved one? Contact 1st Care Community today and learn how we can help seniors live happily in their homes.
