How Occupational Therapy Helps Seniors
By Tracy Hestekin, OTR
Did you know that when a senior moves into assisted living or memory care, that transition alone can qualify them for occupational therapy -and in most cases Medicare covers it?
That is important, because occupational therapy can make a significant difference in helping seniors stay safe, independent, and confident in their daily lives.
What Does Occupational Therapy Actually Do?
At its core, occupational therapy helps seniors maintain or regain the ability to do everyday activities – also called Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s). These can include dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting, laundry, housekeeping, preparing meals, moving safely around their environment and medication management.
Cognition, Memory, and Peace of Mind
Occupational therapy is more than just physical help. Occupational therapists (OTs) can support medical teams with cognitive assessments. OTs look at cognitive skills like planning, processing, problem-solving, attention and judgment. The goal is not just testing, its training and building confidence.
Some simple strategies therapists use is:
- Creating routines
- Labelling the environment
- Using visual cues
- Breaking tasks into smaller/achievable steps
- Practicing scenarios to improve safety with decision making
When things are more manageable, seniors have peace of mind and anxiety often decreases.
Preventing Falls and Building Confidence
Falls are one of the biggest risks for seniors, and OT plays a key role in prevention. Occupational therapists assess and train:
- Sitting and standing for stability
- Balance strategies for safety with self-cares
- Transferring
- Functional reaching
- Environmental lighting
- Safer ways to carry & transport items
An Occupational therapist will assess a senior’s apartment and provide environment modification recommendations: grab bars, shower chair, raised toilet seat, toilet safety frame, walker trays/bags, and positioning items within their reach. An OT will always advise removing throw rugs!
Training With Everyday Equipment
Occupational Therapists teach people how to safely use helpful tools, including:
- Walkers
- Wheelchairs and power chairs
- Grabbers & reaching equipment
- Adaptive equipment to assist with getting dressed
Specialized Care: Lymphedema Therapy
Some Occupational Therapists become certified in Lymphedema Therapy like me. Lymphedema is a condition that causes fluid buildup and swelling, often in the legs.
Treatment may include manual lymph drainage which is a massage technique to mobilize fluid. You know the treatment is working when swelling is reduced.
A real Life Story!
I once worked with a woman in Roseville who hadn’t worn pants in over 3 years. Because of the severe swelling in her legs, she preferred housecoats and had stretchy slipper socks when going out to appointments. She isolated from friends & family due to her self-consciousness.
After completing her lymphedema therapy, everything changed. For the first time in years she could wear pants, put on some actual socks and shoes. She cried this day when she was dressed. It may sound simple, but for her it was a huge return to normal life – visiting with families and participating in activities in her assisted living.
Whether it’s getting dressed, remembering a routine, preventing a fall, or helping with routine reminders, Occupational Therapy helps people hold onto the routines and freedoms that matter most. An Occupational Therapist is often available right where a senior lives, whether that is home, assisted living or memory care. Often, communities have in-house rehab teams that provide occupational therapy services. If they don’t – you can bring in a home care therapy team as well. Or give Choice Connections in the Twin Cities a call and we’d be happy to refer you to an agency.