Occupational Therapy Can Improve a Senior’s Quality of Life

Vancouver Senior Home Care  |  October 21, 2024

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About Occupational Therapy

What is Senior Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy helps seniors lead independent and productive lives by allowing them to recover or develop skills needed to complete daily tasks. 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.

FAST FACTS: Occupational therapy, as we know it today, began in the late 1800s when arts and crafts therapists were used to help patients with physical and mental illnesses.

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

Many seniors receive occupational therapy to assist with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, toileting, and getting dressed. However, conditions like arthritis or diabetes can make these tasks more challenging. Occupational therapy aims to help seniors adapt, move, and function despite limitations in mobility and range of motion. Beyond physical improvement, therapists also employ various techniques to enhance memory and cognitive abilities, addressing mental and emotional well-being.

Four Tips About How Occupational Therapy Can Help Seniors:

Tip #1 – Overcoming daily challenges: 

There are certain activities younger people take for granted. For seniors, these tasks may feel monumental. In fact, physical barriers can add to the overall stress a senior may feel. Therapists will work to form strategies that allow seniors to do things they used to or want to do Therapists help seniors overcome limitations 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, whether it’s the installation of railings, mats, grip bars – or any other assistive devices designed to help improve balance and stability – or modified utensils that can make eating easier. This can make a significant difference for those who may be suffering from arthritis or Parkinson’s. The benefit of a therapist helping to modify the home is really 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. If they’ve received referrals from doctors or other health care professionals to help reduce stress or anxiety, occupational therapists can incorporate relaxation exercises and techniques into a senior’s routine. Similarly, they 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 that it represents a way of educating and showing the steps an individual can take on their own to continue meeting their goals and completing ADLs.

How Comfort Keepers® Can Help Canada’s Seniors

The goals of occupational therapy – improving quality of life and promoting independence – coincide with that of Comfort Keepers®. Occupational therapists can provide direct communication to our 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 a senior meet his or her goals and maintain independence. Contact us today to discover all of the services we provide.

The Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC is Comfort Keepers®

Many families prefer Comfort Keepers® when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver. 

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with Respite Care, Overnight Care, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Companion Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ delivers a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Moreover, our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. 

Senior Homecare in Vancouver, BC

Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office.

Brings The Best Home Care Assistance for Seniors Right Where You Live with Comfort Keepers®

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide home care throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond please call (604) 689-8609. 

Quality and Accredited Respite Care for British Columbia Families

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers® offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada.

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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