1. Assistance for Vision Loss
By the time they reach 65, one in three Australians suffer from an eye condition that impairs their ability to see.
While getting glasses or contacts from the eye doctor to correct vision problems is frequently easy when one is younger, this is not always the case for elderly individuals. Patients in their senior years who have eye conditions or visual loss frequently find it difficult to do basic tasks. They consequently run a higher risk of developing mental diseases including sadness and anxiety.
Thankfully, senior individuals who battle with visual loss can receive assistance from occupational therapists.
With senior patients, occupational therapists carry out tasks that enhance perceptual vision, pattern recognition, and general visual awareness. To ensure that their visual loss does not interfere with daily life, occupational therapists will frequently recommend alterations in the home or place of employment.
For illustration, an occupational therapist would advise
- Removing any tripping hazards like clutter from the house
- Using coloured tags to help people recognise objects
- Increasing the amount of brightness and contrast in the house
- Placing magnifying glasses in the house
- Affixing vibrant stickers to key buttons on appliances including microwaves, dishwashers, and laundry machines
- Painting outlets a dark colour first to make them stand out against the light-colored walls
- Medicine labels in huge print
- Medicine by colour
- Steps with colourful tape to avoid falls
As you can see, many of these changes are really easy to do and don’t cost anything. However, for an elderly person who struggles with eyesight loss, they can mean the world.
2. Transitions in Life
While we go through many changes in our lives, the majority of the challenging ones take place as we become older.
Transitions that are difficult for older individuals to make include retirement, widowhood, and moving. In addition, many elderly persons must bid farewell to many friends who pass away prior to them.
It can be challenging to manage each of these adjustments. Additionally, these changes may make your parent feel especially lonely if they are single.
By teaching elderly parents appropriate coping mechanisms, occupational therapists can assist them in navigating these significant life transitions.
3. Aid caregivers in their work
The assistance that occupational therapy can offer carers is a sometimes underappreciated advantage. Currently, 29 percent of Americans give care to an elderly person at some point each year. Additionally, they devote roughly 20 hours a week to caregiving.
Are you your parent’s primary caregiver?
If so, you are aware of how draining the task may occasionally be on your body, your emotions, and your finances. However, it might occasionally be difficult to admit this because you love your parent.
Fortunately, occupational therapists care about you as well and want to make sure you’re as healthy as possible. An occupational therapist will primarily be concerned with ensuring that you are supporting your parent’s healthy lifestyle without compromising your own.
An OT will do the following:
- Encourage the caregiver to voice their worries, annoyances, and emotions of despair and rage.
- Teach the caregiver effective coping mechanisms
- Encourage the caregiver to adopt healthy habits and interests outside of their parenting responsibilities (such as exercising, meditating, practising yoga)
- Educate caregivers about the most recent findings regarding the ailments and illnesses affecting their older patients
- To enable the caregiver to continue this job at home, let them know what they are teaching their older patient.
One of the toughest tasks there is is caring for someone. Occupational therapists are available to meet both your requirements and as a resource.
4. Suggestions for People With Dementia
According to estimates, dementia affects 1 in 10 males and 1 in 6 women who survive above the age of 55.
Unfortunately, once dementia has started to progress, there is not much that can be done to stop it.
But that doesn’t mean that occupational therapists can’t improve the quality of life for dementia patients. Your elderly parent’s occupational therapist (OT) can give them suggestions that can help make life a little bit simpler if they have dementia.
For instance, if eating becomes challenging, they might advise consuming particular foods with enticing textures. Alternatively, they might advise doing stretches or listening to specific sorts of pain-relieving music.
5. A Reliable Confidante
Last but not least, occupational therapists offer your older parent a reliable source of confidance.
As we mentioned at the beginning of this piece, many older persons experience embarrassment over their diminished abilities. Furthermore, despite the fact that you are their child, they could still feel awkward discussing the difficulties that come with ageing with you.
They frequently avoid burdening you with their worries because they believe you won’t understand or because they simply don’t want to.
When they feel uncomfortable approaching you, your parent can discuss their worries with an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists are skilled medical professionals with experience treating a variety of older people.
They will understand how to speak to your parent in a way that is comforting but not patronising.
Sometimes, just having a non-family member to talk to can make a world of difference in an elderly person’s life.
Are You Prepared to Enroll Your Parent in Occupational Therapy for Senior Patients? As you can see, occupational therapy/ Behaviour Therapist Coomera for parents who are elderly has a lot of advantages. Similarly you can consult for Child Occupational Therapy. The only thing left to do is locate a capable occupational therapist who can assist your parent as well as you.
