April is Occupational Therapy (OT) month.  The American Occupational Therapy Association defines OT as “the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings.

“Occupational therapy services are provided for the purpose of promoting health and wellness and to those who have, or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction. Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life.”

OTs and certified occupational therapy assistants (COTA’s) work with a vast population ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics.  In the area of pediatrics, some OTs work with neonates in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), while others work with children in the school system.  With adults, some OTs work with individuals in hospitals, assisted living facilities and nursing homes.  Many OTs specialize and work with specific populations such as individuals with low vision, while others conduct home assessments and make recommendations regarding modifications that enable people to remain living in their homes as they get older or after an injury.

OTs can play a key role with individuals who desire to age in place.  The AARP recommends OTs be utilized to assist people in identifying ways to improve home safety and recommending home modifications.  The OTs background, education, and training are unique and help prepare them to work with individuals who want to remain living in their homes.

OTs use their medical knowledge, training, and education to assess areas that include thinking skills, muscle control, sense of touch and vision, as well as their ability to access and function in their home environment.  The OT may assess how the individual performs daily functional life skills such as getting dressed, getting in and out of the tub/shower and accessing items in their kitchen/pantry.  They gather this information and make recommendations to improve independence and safety in the home.

Follow The Aging Suite throughout the month as we further explore the role of Occupational Therapy in Aging in Place. You can subscribe to receive our e-news updates, follow us on Twitter or fan us on Facebook.

Source:

Occupational Therapy: Helping America Age in Place and New Markets Emerge From Society’s Needs AOTA, AARP

As we begin this New Year, The Aging Suite would like to remind people of the importance of aging in place.  Simply said, aging in place is as it sounds; it’s the ability to remain in one’s home safely, functionally, and independently as long as possible.  While we know that everyone, for various reasons ranging from financial to health reasons, cannot do this, we believe that many of us want to and can do so with help, tools, strategies, and/or modifications to their homes.  Our mission is to help people who can stay at home safely and independently do so as long as possible by providing them with information and simple and practical tips and tools.

We’ve talked about the concept of aging in place before, but let’s take another look at why this is so important.  In 2006, people 65 and older made up 12% of the US population.  In 2011, Baby Boomers will start turning 65.  It’s estimated that in 2030, the older population will be twice as large as it was in 2000, growing from 35 to 71.5 million.  For people 85 and older, the US census Bureau estimates that that population will grow from 5.3 million in 2006 to 21 million by 2050.  The population is getting older and living longer.  Not only that, but as they age, they want to do so in the comfort of their homes.  An AARP survey stated that 89% of older adults said that they wanted to stay in their current homes as they aged.

In 2004, the leading cause of death in the US for people 65 and older was heart disease, followed by cancer, strokes, chronic respiratory disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes mellitus, and influenza and pneumonia.  Among these conditions, heart disease, strokes, cancer, and diabetes are considered chronic diseases and are the most common and costly health conditions.  While we all know that some of these conditions cannot be controlled, other chronic conditions can be modified and/or even prevented with behavioral interventions.  That’s where we come in.

We want to help you by providing you with information about health conditions, aging in place topics, tips, and tools that can help you and/or a loved one to age in place.  We hope that we can continue to provide you with this useful and helpful information in 2010 and we hope to learn from you as well.  Please feel free to comment and share your information, tips, and tools with us.  Follow us on Twitter and fan us on Facebook

Have a great 2010!!

Source:  Older Americans 2008 Key Indicators of Well-Being

More about Aging in Place:

As we come to the close of 2009, let’s recap what we’ve learned about aging in place.  The goal of aging in place is just as it sounds, helping people to age in place, within their homes.  For the older population, this may mean the difference between being able to stay and age in their homes or moving out and living with family members or at a nursing home.  The aging in place concept is great for older adults but is also beneficial for all populations.

Everyone from baby boomers to senior citizens wants to be able to live out their golden years in the comfort and security of their own homes.  Baby boomers make up 28% of the US population and own 48% of all homes.  Boomers, now more than ever, are looking for ways to age in place realizing that they may need to make changes to their current homes or move into one that will allow them to do so.  An AARP survey stated that 89% of older adults said that they wanted to stay in their current homes as they aged.

Numerous professionals that may work with individuals who desire to Age in Place.  They can include:

• Builders and contractors
• Occupational therapists (OTs)
• Physical therapists (PTs)
• Realtors
• Engineers
• Social workers
• Interior designers

Last week, we talked about professionals with CAPS designations and how someone earns that designation.  This week, we’ll be talking specifically about Occupational Therapists (OTs).  The AARP acknowledges the important role that OTs can have in helping individuals modify their homes.  In fact, the AARP recommends OTs be utilized to assist people in identify ways to improve home safety and for recommending home modifications.  Some OTs choose to become certified in the area of home modification.  Some OTs choose to earn the CAPS designation by taking courses through the National Home Builders Association.  Other OTs earn specialty certification in environmental modification through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the national association for OTs.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) are among the professionals that work with individuals who desire to Age in Place.  So, how are OTs different from others that work with home modifications that help people age in place?  The OTs background and training are unique and help prepare them to work with this segment of the population.  OTs use their medical knowledge, training, and education to assess areas that include the individual’s motor and sensory functions/abilities, cognitive abilities, and their ability to access and function in their home environment.  The OT may assess how the individual performs their daily functional life skills such as getting in and out of the tub/shower and accessing items in their kitchen/pantry.  They gather this information and make recommendations to improve independence and safety in the home and during functional activities in the home.  These recommendations may include simple modifications such as installing lever handles on doors and recommending rocker switches or more involved modifications such as recommending a curbless roll in shower and/or recommending adjusting the height of kitchen counters to allow someone in a wheelchair to access the counter.

Sources

Occupational Therapy: Helping America Age in Place and New Markets Emerge From Society’s Needs

The week of October 12-18^th is National Aging in Place week.  In celebration, The Aging Suite will be running a special three week series on the topic of Aging in Place.

So, what exactly is Aging in Place?

Aging in Place is defined by the National Aging in place Council as

the ability to continue to live in one’s home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.

The goal of aging in place is just as it sounds, helping people age in place, within their homes.  For the older population, this may mean the difference between being able to stay and age in their homes or moving out and living with family members or at a nursing home.  The aging in place concept is great for older adults but is also beneficial for all populations.  For example, wider doorways are beneficial for people in wheelchairs but also benefit someone trying to maneuver a baby stroller in the house.  Lower light switches make turning on a light easier to someone in a wheelchair and to a child.

So, why is Aging in Place important and how can it affect you?

Everyone from baby boomers to senior citizens wants to be able to live out their golden years in the comfort and security of their own homes.  Baby boomers make up 28% of the US population and own 48% of all homes.  Boomers, now more than ever, are looking for ways to age in place realizing that they may need to make changes to their current homes or move into one that will allow them to do so.  An AARP survey stated that 89% of older adults said that they wanted to stay in their current homes as they aged.

Aging in Place incorporates the concept of universal design.  The Center for Universal Design defines universal design as the:

“design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest   extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

Some features of universal design include step-less entry ways into homes, wider doorways, handrails on both sides of stairs, use of grab bars in bathrooms, and lever door handles.

So, if you want to Age in Place and think you need home modifications, who do you turn to?

There are numerous professionals that may work with individuals who desire to Age in Place.  They can include:

• Builders and contractors
• Occupational therapists (OTs)
• Physical therapists (PTs)
• Realtors
• Engineers
• Social workers
• Interior designers

Some individuals choose to earn the CAPS designation by becoming Certified Aging in Place Specialists or CAPS.

Visit The Aging Suite next week as we talk more about the CAPS designation and how you can find a CAPS designee in your area.  To learn more about Aging in Place and CAPS check out these links.  AARP.org and  The National Association of Home Builders

Source: AARP.org and The National Association of Home Builders