OTs in Nursing Homes

Hi Readers:

Last week, I discussed occupational therapy in a school setting and this week I want to inform you on occupational therapy in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility. In a skilled nursing facility there are adults in the aging community of all different ages and functional levels. Some clients may be permanent residents of the facility or they may just but staying for a short time for rehabilitation after an accident or injury.

The role of the OT in the nursing facility is to work with the client and their family to create a treatment process plan, train the client with the assistive devices, adapt them to new environments, and finally with any mental and behavioral issues. When working with short term clients, main roles include environment modifications, reintegration to normal living, leisure skills/participation and more. When working with long term clients, the OT is involved with functional mobility activities such as bathing or cooking, working on cognitive skills, educating caregivers and more.

The occupational therapists also play a big role in prevention and development programs. Some of these programs include fall prevention, dementia management therapeutic groups and so on. OTs contribute a lot to the aging community and have helped in the process of teaching them to live more independently and how they want as they become older. I hope the information I delivered to you has been beneficial and provided you with what you wanted to know!

Thanks for reading,

Megan

References:

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2015). "Occupational Therapy's Role in Skilled Nursing Facilities." www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/AboutOT/Professionals/WhatIsOT/RDP/Facts/FactSheet_SkilledNursingFacilities.pdf?la=en