fall prevention |

Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that affects the brain and typically occurs in middle to late life. It affects both men and women of all races, cultures, and backgrounds. The disease is a slowly progressing form of dementia, and the rate of progression varies for every person. People with Alzheimer’s disease experience memory loss, language problems and changes in decision-making ability, judgement, and personality.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a destruction of nerve cells in the brain that leads to a disconnection of areas of the brain that normally work together. The most common risk factors are old age and a family history of dementia. Early to middle stage symptoms of the disease include repeating statements frequently, misplacing items, difficulty finding names for familiar objects, getting lost on familiar routes and personality changes.

Because people with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty completing routine tasks in their day to day lives, occupational therapists can help individuals and their families adapt tasks and environments to help promote or maximize independence, safety, and function.

Functional Therapeutics streamlines care for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers and families Our expertise and professional experience allows us to:

Evaluate and recommend changes to the environment so clients can maximize function and support safety while performing day-to-day tasks
Develop new routines that are aligned with our client’s capabilities and needs
Teach individuals, family members, and caregivers how to implement home modifications to support safety and functionality
Recommend adaptive equipment to help prevent falls and make basic, everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable
Advise family members on strategies to help maximize their loved one’s capabilities while reducing caregiver stress

Portions of this article were originally published by aota.org

Occupational Therapy (OT) may be one of the most misunderstood professions in the United States. OT is a medically oriented profession designed specifically to help people of all ages approach everyday tasks with both ease and function. The decision in 1920 by the National Association of Occupational Therapy (AOTA) to associate the practice with the word “occupation” has often led to confusion about the overarching value Occupational Therapists bring to healthy living and healing. While an OT is qualified to assess whether a patient has the specific skills needed to accomplish his or her work tasks, an OT assessment can also support the components of everyday life from bathing to meal preparation, increased mobility to fall prevention.

In France, Occupational Therapists are referred to as érgothérapeute. A word that aligns itself with the ergonomic qualities that are part of any OT plan-of-care, érgothérapeute is generally understood to mean the act of helping people preserve their independence and autonomy in all environments – the home, the workplace, and at play. It is about the “occupation” of living and the “occupational” tasks involved.

OT’s have a broad background in assessing clients holistically. We assess cognition and emotional as well as one’s physical status. Our practice supports spiritual and leisure activities and takes into consideration who our patients are, what they value, what they are able to do, and what they would like to do. We do not ask, “What is the matter with you?” We ask, “What matters to you?” Working directly with doctors and physician’s assistants, we help patients recover from injury, overcome the limitations of aging, and discover ways to work, play, and live with mobility, joy, and success.

In short, Occupational Therapy supports the occupation of living life to its fullest. Maximize your potential and call an OT, today!!

Tag Archives: fall prevention

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