OT in Geriatric rehabilitation

CONDITIONS: (e.g.: General Health and Wellness, Specific Diseases such as Arthritis, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, among others).

Role of occupational therapy

Occupational Therapy helps regain, enhance and maintain:

  1. Gross motor and fine motor control through functional activities.
  2. Functional mobility through age-appropriate functional transfers in and out of the bed, chair, etc., including wheelchair transfers and prescription of suitable adaptations and devices.
  3. Body part alignment through movement, positioning and prescribing/fabricating of upper limb orthoses(preventing contractures and deformities).
  4. Endurance through graded exercises, guidance on work-rest balance, work simplifications and energy conservation techniques.
  5. Tone by guiding caretaker/patient on proper positioning that needs to be followed at all times beside various weight-bearing and weight-shifting activities
  6. Sensory awareness and discrimination through re-education techniques.
  7. Posture by guiding patient on proper positioning, joint protection and work simplification techniques and ergonomic considerations in daily activities
  8. Perception skills such as body awareness, spatial relations and position in space, and motor planning through age-appropriate and purposeful functional activities.
  9. Cognition domains such as attention, orientation, memory, and problem solving through age-appropriate and purposeful functional activities.
  10. Balance and coordination including manual dexterity through age-appropriate functional activities among various parts of the body and between the body and its external environment.
  11. Oral motor control techniques and modifying feeding patterns.
  12. Psychosocial (emotional) well-being by facilitating return to daily routine activities, post retirement work options, leisure and recreational tasks, communications and social interactions using therapeutic strategies, adaptive devices & techniques including modifications in the environment.
  13. Caretaker support through counseling and encouraging active involvement in setting goals

Additional roles of an occupational therapist

  1. Prescribing and fabricating splints and upper limb orthoses.
  2. Prescribing and fabricating low-cost assistive devices and communication boards.
  3. Prescribing assistive technology devices (high tech).
  4. Assisting in positioning/ seating persons with disability including wheelchair selection process, modified chairs and standing frames.

Help them gain their lost mobility! Help them live with Dignity!

Neuro-disabled patients deserve a comprehensive treatment ensuring their economical & emotional independence.

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