What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a health profession that many people don’t know about but that can be an extremely beneficial part of helping a person with dementia maintain independence. The word “occupation” doesn’t just refer to paid work, it also refers to everyday activities like preparing meals, socializing with friends, going for a walk, taking a shower, or writing in your journal. Occupational therapy focuses on the things people do:
- as part of daily life
- in participating in their communities
- in forming a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Occupational therapists can support people with understanding changes in their thinking, memory, organization, and emotions. They may also focus on the person’s environment, helping to prioritize safety through reducing risks of falls and other risks at home or in the community.
The list is endless – and different for each person. But ultimately, occupational therapists are interested in making sure people can continue with the roles and activities that are meaningful to them. They do this by assessing an individual (their strengths, needs, abilities, challenges, values), the occupation (what the task is), and the environments in which it happens. Then they develop a personalized strategy to address these needs.
Occupational therapists may work with people living with dementia in their homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, memory clinics, and residential care facilities. They are often an integral part of health and rehabilitation teams because of the numerous ways their training can help address the needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Why is Occupational Therapy Important for Dementia Care?
Most people with dementia, especially in the early to middle stages of the disease, can benefit from occupational therapy, as it can help them maintain their independence, autonomy, and sense of purpose, which can improve their quality of life. As soon as someone notices a change in their function — whether it’s increased forgetfulness or difficulty coping with change — talking with an occupational therapist could be beneficial. Occupational therapy can also direct people to other helpful services, organizations, and networks and can advise caregivers on how to support an individual living with dementia.
While cognitive impairment is the clinical hallmark of dementia, non-cognitive neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression, agitation, and sleep disturbances are very common, affecting 98% of individuals at some point during the disease progression. These symptoms may create difficulties for people with dementia and their caregivers, and can lead to earlier nursing home placement, hospital stays, and caregiver stress and depression. Effectively treating these symptoms can potentially slow cognitive decline, lower medical expenses, and improve quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers.
Occupational therapy can’t prevent dementia from worsening, but it can help you to cope and adapt as the disease progresses. Some goals of occupational therapy for dementia include:
- doing tasks (preparing food, dressing, cleaning) unaided
- living at home for as long as possible
- staying safe and avoiding injury
- remaining physically active
- following your dementia care plan
- maintaining social relationships
What Will an Occupational Therapist do?
The American Occupational Therapy Association outlines various ways in which occupational therapy can help a person to maintain their independence. These include:
Teaching skills: An occupational therapist can teach people skills to help them perform everyday activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
Teaching techniques to improve cognitive function: An occupational therapist can teach techniques to help people with the following cognitive skills:
- concentration
- memory
- planning
- prioritizing
Providing adaptive equipment: Adaptive equipment can ease everyday tasks, allowing more independence. Examples of such equipment include:
- adaptive cutlery to help at mealtimes
- bathroom aids to help with washing and bathing, such as handrails, non-slip mats, or shower seats
- visual aids to help with dressing, such as signs on wardrobes and drawers to help people locate clothing, and photographs of how the person looks in different outfits
Improving safety in the home: An occupational therapist may recommend the following tips to help prevent falls and accidents:
- installing grab rails or non-slip mats
- decluttering floors and surfaces
- installing proper indoor lighting
- removing locks from doors so that a person cannot accidentally lock themselves into a room
Advising caregivers: An occupational therapist can advise caregivers on how to support an individual living with dementia.
Occupational therapy for dementia depends on an individual’s needs. A therapist will adjust the care plan to suit a person’s stage of dementia, lifestyle, and ability level. In the later stages of dementia, individuals are usually entirely or primarily dependent on others to assist them with basic functioning. Occupational therapy for late-stage dementia usually focuses on educating caregivers and family members.
Occupational therapy can help these caregivers learn to:
- physically transfer your loved one in a safe and comfortable way
- avoid and treat bedsores
- provide enjoyable stimulation
- gently exercise the limbs
- choose and use mobility aids and other accommodations
Where to find Occupational Therapy
Once a diagnosis of dementia has been made, regardless of the stage, it may be worthwhile to speak to your loved one’s primary healthcare professional about referring you to an occupational therapist in your area. A doctor may also be able to provide other helpful information, such as local dementia organizations and networks. You can also find a list of social service organizations in the Chicagoland area at the RUSH Alzheimer’s Disease Center social service hub or the ICRN’s services list.
Summary
- Occupational therapy is a health profession where the focus is on occupations, or the things people do as part of daily life, in participating in their communities, and in forming a fulfilling and meaningful life.
- Occupational therapy can’t prevent dementia from worsening. But an occupational therapist may help people with early to middle stage dementia maintain their independence, autonomy, and sense of purpose, which can improve their quality of life.
- The American Occupational Therapy Association outlines various ways in which occupational therapy can help a person to maintain their independence. These include:
- Teaching skills to help perform everyday activities
- Teaching techniques to improve cognitive function
- Providing adaptive equipment to ease everyday tasks
- Improving safety in the home
- Advising caregivers on how to support an individual living with dementia.
- Once a diagnosis of dementia has been made, regardless of the stage, it may be worthwhile to speak to your loved one’s primary healthcare professional about referring you to an occupational therapist in your area.
Sources: RUSH University Medical Center, National Institutes of Health, Eldercare Alliance, Dementia Alliance International, Healthline
