April is OT month.  This being the last week of the month, we’d like to personally thank you for joining us as we discussed occupational therapy.  With OT, instead of thinking of occupation in terms of finding jobs/employment, think of occupation as function.  Think function and think everyday activities, think of your role as a home maker, parent, employee, member of the community.

Functional activities include:

• Driving
• Typing
• Washing your hair
• Buttoning your clothes
• Mopping the floor
• Gardening
• Cooking
• Managing your checkbook

Is a disease or disability keeping you from your functional activities?  An OT can help.  OTs specialize in function and functional performance.  We use our ability to perform task analysis along with our medical education and training to help you find ways to function more independently.  We help to retrain you when possible, but if modifications are needed, we teach you how to modify the activity or help to modify the environment to make you successful.

We hope we’ve provided you with useful information about the populations OTs serve and what we do to help you and your loved ones.  Visit the American Occupational Therapy Association to learn more about OTs and how you can find one in your area.  And visit the World Federation of Occupational Therapy to learn more about OTs all around the world.

April is OT Month and all this month we’ve been discussing the role of occupational therapists (OTs).  OTs work with a wide population ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics.  In the home setting with adults with physical impairments, OTs may work with individuals whose diagnoses include:

• Arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Knee and hip replacements
• Strokes
• Macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Diabetes

OTs may work in the home with people on functional daily living skills that include:

• Improving independence with dressing, toileting, bathing
• Using adaptive equipment to help increase independence with self help skills
• Training individuals to get in and out of the tub/shower and on and off the commode safely following a disability or injury
• Preparing meals safely

Another important role of the OT may include performing a home safety assessment and making recommendations that can improve the safety and independence in the home.  These recommendations can range from simple modifications to more complex and can include recommending:

• Installing lever handles on doors and faucets
• Installing grab bars in the bathroom
• Rocker switches on light switches
• A curbless roll in shower
• Widening a doorway to allow access by a wheelchair

Adjusting the height of kitchen counters to allow a wheelchair access The AARP recommends OTs be utilized to assist people in identifying ways to improve home safety and for recommending home modifications.  Some OTs choose to become certified in the area of home modification.  Some earn the Certified Aging in Place (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.

To learn more about occupational therapy, check out the following links:  Occupational Therapy: Helping America Age in Place, AARP

An estimated 21.1% of individuals 75 years old or older have low vision.  Low vision deficits are permanent visual impairments that cannot be corrected with the use of contact lenses, glasses, or surgery.

Low Vision can impact someone’s ability to:

• Read
• Cook
• Take medications
• Groom themselves including shaving and applying makeup
• Get around safely in their home and community

Diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinitis pigmentosa can affect an individual’s performance, safety, and independence in their home and community.  Occupational therapists (OTs) often work with individuals with low vision, teaching strategies including:

• Using their available vision to perform daily activities such as cooking and dressing
• Making suggestions regarding lighting options
• Teaching and training in safety strategies for the home and community

• Teaching specialized techniques for reading writing, and cooking
• Training in the of use low vision devices such as magnifiers

Research has indicated that older adults with low vision are at increased risk for depression, may be more distressed due to feelings of loss of control, have increased fear of dependency upon others, and may also have a perceived loss of their ability to maintain their social roles.  Studies have also indicated that individuals with visual impairments are less mobile, have higher mortality rates, and are more likely to have accidents and falls.

However, Low vision rehabilitation services can help; they allow people with visual impairments to utilize adaptive devises and techniques to assist them towards independence when performing their daily activities.  Studies have also indicated that patients who have participated in low vision rehabilitation programs have demonstrated an improvement with quality of life; and low vision services help decrease fears about deteriorating vision.  Click here to learn more about how OTs can help individuals with low vision.

Sources:  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Psychosocial issues in older adults’ adjustment to vision loss:  Findings from qualitative interviews and focus groups, Quality of life of low-vision patients and outcomes of low-vision rehabilitation

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

March is brain injury awareness month.  A brain injury can significantly impact an older adult’s ability to age in place.  Having a head injury can be a life altering experience for the individual and their family.  As an occupational therapist (OT) I’ve seen firsthand how lives change as a result of a head injury. Everyday tasks like getting dressed, brushing your teeth, and fixing breakfast can become much more challenging and complicated.  Family members may feel like their loved one has completely changed.  Depending on the type and location of the brain injury, the individual’s personalities, likes and dislikes, and attitudes may be completely different.  They may also seem to have poor safety awareness and be impulsive and impatient.

According to the CDC, 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year.  A TBI can be caused by a blow or jolt to the head or when something penetrates the brain.  A TBI can be mild, causing a shortened period of altered mental status or consciousness or it can be severe, causing extended periods of unconsciousness after the initial injury.    The CDC estimates that about 75% of TBIs that occur each year are the result of a concussion or some type of mild TBI.

Statistics on TBI

• TBIs occur most often in males
• Children aged 0-4, teens aged 15-19 and adults age 65 and older are most likely to sustain TBIs
• Adults over the age of 75 have the highest rates of TBI related hospitalizations and deaths
• Falls are the leading cause of TBIs
• In adults 65 and older, falls are the cause of an estimated 60.7% of TBIs

Knowing that falls are the most common cause of TBIs among seniors highlights the importance of fall prevention education and fall prevention programs.  The link between aging in place and fall prevention is clear.  Fall prevention education and fall prevention programs can truly help reduce the likelihood of falls.  This can reduce the likelihood of TBIs among seniors and helping them to age safely in place.  Click here to learn more about TBIs in seniors.

Source: CDC

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

In keeping with National Diabetes month, The Aging Suite will be discussing diabetic neuropathy this week.  Diabetic Neuropathy can occur in all of the body’s organs, impacting the way in which individuals function safely in their homes. This impact can be due to issues such as sensation and vision loss as well as muscle weakness.  By educating our readers about diabetes’ effects on the body, we hope to continue in our efforts to help the elderly population successfully age in place.

It’s estimated that 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have diabetic neuropathy.  Diabetic neuropathy, nerve damage caused by diabetes, can occur in all of the body’s organ systems.  The cause of the nerve damage can be due to several factors such as:

• High blood glucose levels
• Abnormal blood fat levels
• Nerve inflammation
• Low insulin levels
• Smoking or alcohol use

Risk Factors for Diabetic Neuropathy include:

• Being overweight
• Being a diabetic for a long time period
• Diabetics who have a difficult time controlling their blood sugar
• Diabetics who have high levels of blood fat
• Diabetics with high blood pressure

There are 4 classifications of Diabetic Neuropathies; they are, peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and focal.

Peripheral Neuropathies
This is the most common type of diabetic neuropathy and is nerve damage in the arms, hands, legs, and feet.  Symptoms include:

• Numbness or tingling
• Pain and cramps
• Loss of balance
• Muscle weakness

Autonomic Neuropathies affect the eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, sex organs, as well as the urinary, respiratory, and digestive systems.  Symptoms include:

• Hypotension
• Being unaware when your blood sugar levels drop
• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Urinary tract infections
• Urinary incontinence
• Erectile dysfunction

Proximal Neuropathies are more common among older diabetics and individuals with type II diabetes.  This type of neuropathy initially starts off as pain in the legs, thighs, buttocks, or hips.  Proximal neuropathies cause leg weakness, resulting in mobility issues.

Focal Neuropathies are unpredictable and can cause severe pain.  It often impacts nerves in the legs, head, and trunk.  This type of neuropathy occurs more often in older adults and can cause:

• Double vision
• Pain in the lower back and pelvis area
• Thigh pain
• Chest or abdominal pain
• Bell’s palsy

Diabetic Neuropathies can be prevented by managing your blood sugar levels and keeping them to a normal or as close to normal as possible range.   Diabetic foot care is also essential.  Sores and ulcers can lead to infection.  Diabetic neuropathies that cause pain may be treated with pain medications.  For those who experience urinary tract infections, they may be treated with antibiotics.  Your physician may prescribe occupational and physical therapy to address muscle weakness.  Check out this week’s technology in the Suite to learn more about diabetic foot care.

Source:   National Institutes of Health

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

So, what does it mean to be CAPS certified?

A professional with the CAPS designation is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist.  This designation was developed with collaboration by the AARP, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, NAHB 50+ Housing Council, and NAHB remodelers.      

Why was CAPS created?

The CAPS designation was developed after research by the AARP indicated that Americans wanted to stay and age in their homes instead of moving.  It was also created as a means to help older adults obtain reliable and skilled professionals to help remodel their homes.

CAPS professionals have training that includes:

• Understanding the needs of the older adult population and the benefits of aging in place
• Home Modifications for aging in place
• Education regarding the principles of universal design
• Design solutions that meet the needs of individuals who desire to age in place
• Strategies and techniques for building and designing attractive barrier free living environments

CAPS Designees include:

• Builders
• Contractors
• Occupational Therapists
• Interior Designers

Requirements to maintain designation:

CAPS designees must uphold a code of ethics and take continuing education courses to maintain their designations.  You can find a CAPS professional in your area by going to the National Association of Home Builders website.  Click here to find a list of CAPS professionals in your area.

Visit The Aging Suite next week as we discuss the unique role Occupational Therapists can play in aging in place.

Source: NAHB

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