Occupational Therapy for Older Adults

OTs can help older adults with many types of tasks. These include daily self-care tasks (activities of daily living), such as:

• Eating.
• Bathing and getting dressed.
• Using a toilet.
• Moving from one place to another, such as from a bed or chair to a toilet, tub, or shower (called transferring).

An OT can also help with more complex daily activities (instrumental activities of daily living). These tasks need more thinking (cognitive) or social skills, and include:

• Food shopping and making meals.
• Using a phone or computer.
• Cleaning and doing laundry.
• Managing daily medicines.
• Managing finances.
• Driving.

Many conditions can affect a person’s ability to do things they enjoy or need to do. Occupational therapy can help people with conditions, such as:

• Stroke.
• Dementia.
• Brain and spinal cord injuries.
• Alzheimer disease.
• Arthritis.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Diabetes.
• Chronic pain.
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
• Vision problems.
• Mental illness, such as depression, an anxiety disorder, or schizophrenia.
• Muscle, joint, or skeletal problems. These include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, a broken bone, or joint replacement surgery.

An OT will first do an assessment to find your current level of function. As part of this, the OT will review your health history. They will watch you do certain tasks to see how well you are functioning. They will also talk with you about the tasks that are hard for you to do. With your permission, they may talk with other people involved in your care. This could be a family member, a caregiver, or other health care providers.

The OT will then work with you to create a treatment plan with short-term and long-term goals. They can show you helpful exercises, assess your home for safety, and teach you new ways of doing things. They can also help you get assistive devices, if needed. These are tools that can help you to do things more easily, such as a walker or a cane. And they can show you how to use these devices safely and correctly.

Based on your needs, an OT may do things like:

• Show you an easier way to do tasks, such as getting dressed.
• Show you how to safely get in and out of the shower.
• Teach you exercises to help improve your strength, flexibility, or hand-eye coordination.
• Do an assessment to make sure your home is safe and well-lit.
• Help you get assistive devices, such as a raised toilet seat, a bath chair, a cane, a reacher, or a pill organizer. And teach you how to use them.
• Educate your caregivers about any specific activities that are a part of your health routine.
• Help prevent falls by:
  • Securing or removing throw rugs.
  • Getting rid of things that you could trip over.
  • Placing brightly colored tape on steps.
  • Installing grab bars in the home, especially in the shower and by the toilet.
  • Using slip-resistant flooring and anti-skid mats.
  • Installing a home monitoring alert system in case of a fall or an accident.
  • Teaching you special methods and exercises to improve your balance and strengthen your muscles.
  • Installing wheelchair ramps and shower benches.
• Help with your vision. After talking to your doctor about what help you may need, an OT may recommend:
  • Some activities to improve your perceptual vision, pattern detection, and vision awareness.
  • Color-coding medicines and household items to help you identify them.
  • Using magnifiers to read small print.
  • Labeling appliances with brightly colored stickers.
  • Painting walls a lighter color and outlets a darker color to create visual contrast.
• Help with your memory. After talking to your doctor about what help you may need, an OT may suggest:
  • Doing puzzles, flashcards, matching games, and other activities that help with memory.
  • Labeling front doors with stop signs. This can help people who become easily confused and may wander away from their home.
  • Only keeping a small amount of food in the home and labeling expiration dates in bold letters.

Your doctor will write a referral for occupational therapy services. Ask your doctor to recommend an OT in your area.

OTs and OTAs work with people in many different settings. These may include assisted living centers, nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehab centers, or a person’s home.

Occupational therapy sessions may be paid in part by Medicare if you are older than 65, or by Medicaid or private health insurance. However, Medicaid coverage varies by state. Check with your state Medicaid agency for more information. And always check with your insurance company to see what your specific plan covers.

For more information on how occupational therapy can help you, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association .