How Occupational Therapy Can Help with Dementia

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a broad rehabilitation-based specialty focused on enabling people to reach their highest level of independence in all of their daily activities. These might include self-care tasks such as bathing and dressing as well as more complex tasks, including cooking, driving, and working. All of these “occupations” make up our daily routines and give our lives meaning. Occupational therapists (OTs) work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient-based clinics, and in home health, among others.

Dementia

Dementia is a decline in cognitive functioning that impacts thinking and reasoning skills. It is typically a progressive disease that can result in memory difficulty, personality change, poor judgment, and poor attention; it can range from mild to severe in severity. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia in older adults.¹

A few symptoms include:

• Difficulty remembering names
• Wandering
• Poor safety awareness
• Misplacing and losing things
• Difficulty concentrating on tasks
• Trouble performing complex tasks such as paying bills¹

Can occupational therapy help with dementia?²

Yes! OTs are trained to work with older adults and their families in navigating the complexities of dementia. Areas of focus may include:

• Educating caregivers and persons with dementia on the progression of the disease and expectations for levels of function
• Evaluating the home environment and recommending adaptations or compensatory strategies to increase ease of daily routine
• Assessing level of functioning and optimizing independence for as long as possible
• Reducing caregiver burden to prevent burnout and prevent the need for placement in long-term care²

OTs approach dementia care from multiple angles, taking the environment, the caregiver, and patients’ needs into consideration.³ They may work with the patient on activities of daily living (e.g., dressing, bathing, toileting, and feeding), assess the home for safety concerns, recommend adaptive equipment, and provide strategies for managing memory loss. Depending on the progression of the disease, therapists may also initiate an exercise program to maximize physical functioning and the ability to remain independent with daily tasks.³

At Sheltering Arms Institute, OTs work in collaboration with both physical and speech therapists to address all facets of this disease. Additionally, your physician may recommend a driving safety evaluation with the driving simulator located at our Hanover center where your OT can assess safety and capacity for continuing to drive.

While dementia is typically not reversible, therapeutic intervention can potentially slow the progression and enable you or your loved one to maximize function and continue to engage in activities they value and enjoy.

If you’d like to schedule an evaluation to see how one of our occupational therapists can help you or a loved one navigate dementia, request an appointment on our website or call (804) 764-1000.

References:

1. National Institute on Aging. What is dementia? nih.gov https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-isdementia#:~:text=Dementia%20is%20the%20loss%20of,and%20their%20personalities%20may%20change. Updated 2021. Accessed February 23, 2022.

2. LSU Health New Orleans. Dementia care guide. allied health.lsuhsc.edu.OT.  www.alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/OT. Updated 2020. Accessed February 23^rd, 2022.

3. Sarzak HI. Overview: dementia and the role of occupational therapy practitioner: MOJ Yoga Physical Ther. 2018;3(4):98-100. doi: 10.15406/mojypt/2018.03.00053