Senior Occupational Therapy for Optimal Health

Edmonton Senior Home Care  |  October 21, 2024

What Every Senior in Edmonton, AB Needs to Know About Occupational Therapy

What is senior occupational therapy? Occupational therapy helps seniors lead independent and productive by allowing them to recover or develop the skills needed for daily life. This practice has been known to be quite beneficial for seniors who feel they can no longer meet day-to-day physical and mental challenges.

Those who work in occupational therapy work to understand an individual’s specific needs. They assess by talking with the client, their family members, friends, and their primary doctor/physician.

Therapists evaluate medical history, eating/sleeping patterns, and other behavioural patterns that can help form a thorough assessment. From there, they will develop a plan comprised of specific recommendations and techniques conducive to meeting his or her goals.

The Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Seniors

Conditions such as arthritis or diabetes can make life difficult. Many seniors receive occupational therapy to help perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Everything from bathing and toileting to getting dressed in the morning.

Despite a diminished range of motion or mobility, the goal is to help seniors move and function and overcome physical challenges. That being said, occupational therapy is not limited to improving physical functionality. Therapists can use a variety of techniques to help improve memory and cognitive ability, as well.

Four Tips About How Occupational Therapy Can Help Seniors:

Tip #1 – Overcoming daily challenges: 

For seniors, physical barriers can feel monumental and add to what they may feel. Therapists will work to form strategies that assist seniors in doing the things they used to or want to do. Above all, therapists help seniors overcome limitations and/or identify alternatives.

Tip #2 – Modifying the home: 

Some ADLs simply can’t be completed without some form of environmental assistance. Therapists may recommend that improvements or modifications be made in the home. This can include; balance and stability devices like railings, mats, and grip bars, or providing modified utensils that can make eating easier. Changes like these can make a significant difference for those suffering from arthritis or Parkinson’s.

The benefit of a therapist helping to modify the home is twofold: on one hand, it helps improve functionality, and on the other, it enhances the safety of the overall environment.

Tip #3 – Improving mental well-being: 

As mentioned, occupational therapy does not revolve solely around improving physical well-being. Referrals received from doctors to reduce stress or anxiety can be incorporated into the care provided by an occupational therapist by way of relaxation exercises and techniques.

Similarly, therapists can utilize various activities to help improve cognition, with crossword puzzles or memory games.

Tip #4 – Promoting independence: 

Therapists are instructed to help improve quality of life, not just within a short period, but for a lifetime – and that begins with taking into account what challenges a senior wishes to overcome, day in and day out. The key to occupational therapy is teaching an individual how to continue meeting their goals and completing ADLS after therapy has ended.

How Comfort Keepers® Can Help Canada’s Seniors

Occupational therapists can provide direct communication to the Comfort Keepers team, informing them of changes in a client’s behaviour or specific needs. From there, our caregivers can reinforce prescribed techniques and strategies designed to help seniors meet their goals and maintain independence.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is Proud to Offer a Wide Range of Home Senior Care Services

Our trained caregivers will ensure your loved one is comfortable, independent and safe in their home. On top of that, we will also aim to enhance their overall health, quality of life and general happiness. 

Top-Notch Home Healthcare for Seniors in Edmonton, Alberta

Comfort Keepers of Edmonton offers a wider range of senior care services. We offer retirement care, respite care, senior care, and companionship care. In addition to end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, and senior living transition services. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care and more!

Helping Seniors Age-in-Place with Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs. Our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind, empathy. We strive to stimulate our clients emotionally, mentally and socially, thus enhancing their overall quality of life. 

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). The system increases seniors’ sense of well-being, independence and companionship by focusing on Senior Mind, Senior Body, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Safety.

Affordable and Client-Directed Homecare is Available for Qualifying Albertans

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. 

What is the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program (CDHCI)?

CDHCI is a great program provided by Alberta Health Services (AHS), allowing clients to choose an approved agency like, Comfort Keepers Edmonton for Personal Care, Respite Care and Homemaking needs. The chosen agency can then bill AHS directly for services rendered for approved hours through Alberta Blue Cross. Read more about the program HERE.

Accredited Home Care Edmonton

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton was awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada. This honour demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton, MB.

To learn more about senior in-home care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office. Our service territory includes Edmonton, Devon, Sherwood Park, Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office at 780-465-4665.

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References:

• SeniorsMatter. “Occupational Therapists for Seniors” by Alison McIntosh. Web. 2017.
• LiveStrong. “OT Exercises for Seniors” by Ashely Miller. Web. 2014.
• TopOccupationalTherapySchool. “Occupational Therapy for Seniors – What are the Key Benefits?” Web. 2016.
• LiveScience. “What is Occupational Therapy?” by Stephanie Pappas. Web. 2014.

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