Occupational Therapy and Aging in Place: 5 Ways it Can Help

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• Occupational Therapy and Aging in Place

By 2034, those 65+ will outnumber those 18 and under by 1.5 million. Studies have found 93% of older adults prefer to stay in their own homes as they age. This means that by 2034, there will be 71.61 million adults trying to age in place.

While aging in place has many benefits, such as improved independence, it's not without its struggles. Mental and physical difficulties can make aging in place challenging.

Occupational therapy for seniors offers a safe method of overcoming the hurdles associated with aging in place and aging. An occupational therapist (OT) is a healthcare provider who assists someone in performing daily tasks. They help seniors by working with their main doctor and other experts to find problems, set goals, and reach targets.

An OT can help older adults with everyday tasks, fall prevention, home upkeep, and more. This article explores occupational therapy and offers insight into its role in helping seniors age in place.

The Benefits and Challenges of Aging in Place

The Role of Occupational Therapy in Aging in Place

One of the benefits of occupational therapy services is they are all tailored around one thing: a senior's needs

Because an OT works with a senior's primary care provider, they become well-versed in their struggles, needs, and objectives. This clear understanding gives them insight into the best approach and treatment plan.

A tailored approach means seniors receive personalized care for their needs to overcome obstacles best. Below is a list of various roles occupational therapy plays in helping seniors age in place.

Home Assessments and Modifications

A mere 10% of modern homes are aging in place ready. The fact that seniors are a more significant fall risk makes this a recipe for disaster.

OTs, equipped with general and a senior's specific needs, can assess a home's environment. They can recommend (and sometimes make) the required home modifications to make it safer and more accessible.

Based on their insight, they might recommend:

• Installing grab bars to prevent falls
• Adding a shower seat or transfer bench in the bathroom to make bathing more accessible
• Improving lighting throughout the house for a senior with vision impairment
• And more.

Home safety is an essential part of aging in place. An OT can help make the required changes to a home to make it safer and more accessible.

Improving Daily Living Skills

Activities of daily living (ADLs) include bathing, dressing, and eating. While these tasks may seem simple, they can become difficult for seniors as their motor skills weaken, threatening their ability to age in place.

If ADLs are a hurdle, an OT can create and implement a tailored plan to overcome them. They may help the senior with actions such as:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• And meal preparation

If the senior requires rehabilitation, they may assist them in improving strength, balance, and coordination exercises.

The level and length of care will vary depending on a senior's needs. For example, if a senior is recovering from surgery, the OT will help them until they can function independently. However, if a senior requires long-term or permanent care, the OT will be more permanent.

Another benefit OTs offer is knowledge of tests such as the Elderly Mobility Scale. These tests measure a senior's ability to move independently and provide insight into key areas to focus on.

Fall Prevention

One-third of adults 65+ experience a fall each year. Falls prevent a significant risk for seniors, creating a major hurdle to aging in place. Luckily, OTs can play an essential role in preventing falls.

A crucial part of occupational therapy with the elderly is to reduce the chance of falls. Fall prevention comes in many forms, including:

• Understanding their health conditions to know what may cause falls
• Creating and implementing an exercise program to improve strength, balance, and coordination
• Going through the senior's home to identify and remove any features that may increase falls
• Monitoring a senior's health to prevent any future risks

An OT can act as a guide and provide a bird's-eye view to help seniors prevent falls. Their guidance and insight make them valuable assets in reducing falls while retaining independence.

Companionship and Socialization

Companionship and socialization are core human needs. However, aging in place puts this need at risk. The privacy associated with this lifestyle puts seniors at mental and emotional risk. Research has found that 34% of seniors report feeling isolated, and 37% experience a lack of companionship.

OTs can offer companionship and socialization through frequent interaction. They can help seniors stay engaged in their communities and to participate in meaningful activities. Some organizations hire OTs specifically to provide emotional support for seniors.

Medication Management

The Department of Health and Human Services reports that up to 55% of seniors may not take their medications as prescribed. Other studies report that 75-96% of older patients admit to frequently making mistakes with their medications.

For seniors on critical medications, this can prove to be harmful and even fatal. Researchers have found that adverse drug reactions hospitalize 200,000 older adults every year.

Medication adherence in seniors is an issue. OTs can overcome this hurdle by helping seniors maintain their medication intake. They can assist in:

• Understanding the names, dosages, purposes, side effects, and administration instructions
• Developing medication routines centered around the senior's daily schedule
• Monitoring when and how the senior takes the medication
• Ordering refills
• Cutting up medications to make them easier to swallow and digest
• Communicating and educating the senior's family members and caregivers on their medication
• And more.

Medication compliance is a crucial part of aging in place. OTs can ensure seniors monitor their usage safely and effectively to minimize the chances of mismanagement.

Occupational Therapy: A Key to Aging in Place Success

Utilizing occupational therapy for the elderly at home can play a vital role in aging in place. The wide range of tailored services makes them an excellent source of support and safety. The role an OT can play includes, but is not limited to:

• Home assessments and modifications
• Improving daily living activities
• Fall prevention
• Companionship and socialization
• And medication management

When considering an OT, assess a senior's needs and challenges. Doing so will help you decide what specializations and qualifications to search for. To help in your OT search, we recommend the following resources:

• OT Potential: Their directory allows you to search by location, focus area, telehealth, if they accept clients, and more.
• The Senior's Physician: Working with a senior's physician is an excellent place to start. Their physician will know the senior's health best and may have a solid idea of reliable and effective local OTs.
• Medicare.gov: The Medicare provider search tool offers an easy way to search for OTs covered by Medicare.

Just because seniors are aging in place does not mean they have to face the challenges this decision brings. By using the services and knowledge of occupational therapists, seniors can stay comfortable in their homes for longer.

Aging in Place Resources

About the Author

Brandon Landgraf is the Digital Marketing Manager for Carex Health Brands. He finds passion and fulfillment in creating content that enhances, improves, and enlivens others' quality of life. All of his written work is formulated to not only offer essential advice and tips but back it with proven studies and experts. His mission is to connect with readers and provide steps to make their lives better.

You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.

About Carex Health Brands

Carex is your one-stop shop for home medical equipment and for products that assist caregivers with providing the best possible support and care for their loved ones. Carex Health Brands has been the branded leader in in-home, self-care medical products for over 35 years. Our goal is to improve the lives of our customers by bring them quality products that bring dignity back to their lives. With our three nationally distributed brands, Carex Health Brands serves national, regional and independent food, drug and mass retailers along with wholesalers, distributors and medical dealers.