7 Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Seniors
Whether you have an illness, injury, or disability, occupational therapy is an excellent option to help you regain your independence in following your daily routine and achieve a better quality of life. Read on to take a closer look at what occupational therapy is and the benefits for seniors so you can make informed decisions.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Most people understand physical therapy. However, they are unaware of what occupational therapy (OT) entails. This type of therapy is designed to help people develop or regain the skills required to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) as independently as possible. Since each patient has different conditions and needs, treatment programs vary accordingly.
Occupational therapists educate and work with your care team, including doctors, nurses, family, and more. They ensure you receive proper care by creating a program that accurately meets your needs and helps you achieve your personal goals.
7 Advantages of Occupational Therapy for Seniors
Overcome Challenges of Everyday Life
Many seniors face difficulty performing everyday activities such as bathing, toileting, grooming, eating meals, managing their medicines, and more. This can lead to frustration, embarrassment, and even depression. In addition, it may reduce the possibility of socializing, leading to isolation. To overcome these daily challenges, occupational therapists can help you improve your strength, motor skills, mobility, and range of motion. These experts can help you learn rehabilitation techniques and exercises to make your life easier. By gradually improving the essential skills, you will find it easier to complete everyday tasks safely.
Fall Prevention
Studies show that the chances of falls increase for seniors over 65, leading to frequent visits to the emergency room. This raises the possibility of health risks, so nursing homes and rehab centers recommend occupational therapy. Therapists can teach you crucial techniques and exercises to strengthen your muscles, improve your balance, and prevent future falls.
Improve Vision
Seniors suffering from eye diseases or vision loss often struggle with everyday activities, which may increase the chances of mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Occupational therapists can help you by recommending suitable exercises and routines to enhance your vision. Some of the standard measures include:
- Removing clutter from your room and place of stay
- Improving the lighting in your place
- Pasting brightly colored tape on steps and hallways
- Using suitable spectacles or magnifiers to read the small print
- Color coding medications and essential items
- Labeling appliances appropriately
Promote Independence
One of the primary goals of occupational therapy is to help seniors develop or regain the skills required in everyday life to achieve independence. Therapists will carefully evaluate your medical conditions and health needs and create a plan to overcome your daily challenges. They use a combination of education, professional support, and care to accomplish this.
Memory Rehabilitation
In addition to physical advantages, OT provides many mental benefits as well. Occupational therapists will evaluate your cognitive abilities and physical strength to develop a comprehensive care plan suitable for your needs. If you suffer from memory loss, here are a few recommendations by these experts in nursing homes:
- Engage in memory-enhancing games, puzzles, and activities
- Learn non-defensive techniques to help manage sudden personality changes
- Limit your options in every aspect of life, such as clothing, meals, and more, to avoid confusion
- Place instructions in your place, such as stop signs on front doors to manage disorientation
Manage Life Transitions
Challenging transitions such as retirement and relocation tend to happen as we age. These can be tough to deal with, especially if you do not have proper guidance and help. Occupational therapists will understand your problems and help you manage these situations by educating you on healthy coping skills.
Recommendations for Dementia
Occupational therapists can help make your life better by managing dementia. Depending on your condition, they may suggest eating specific foods, listening to soothing music, stretching exercises, and more.
We Offer Professional Help for Seniors in Our Nursing Home
The Holiday Retirement provides an exceptional nursing home in Rhode Island. We care about our residents and offer a top-notch rehabilitation center with the best programs to make their lives happier and problem-free. We provide short-term rehab, long-term stay, and respite care with physical and occupational therapy.
For more information about our nursing home and rehabilitation center, call us at 1-401-765-1440. You can also fill out our online form to book a tour of our facility so you know what you can expect from us.
Also Read: Proactive Wellness for Seniors to Lead a Healthy & Happy Life