As an Occupational therapy assistant student, it is important for me to understand the many ways I can assist older adults in the area of driving and community mobility. Driving is an instrumental activity of daily living that allows older adults to be independent in many regions of the United States through using a car to shop, go to doctor’s appointments and access the environment. Community mobility is also an instrumental activity of daily living that allows older adults to be independent in accessing the environment. In this paper, I will discuss how I can address physical deficits in an OT treatment session, ways to promote community mobility as well as my own experience as an OTAS. To begin, as an occupational therapy practitioner, …show more content…
In an OT session, I may work on range of motion, strength, bilateral coordination and modifications to driving with a patient who fractured or injured an arm, hip, neck or leg or experiencing hemiparesis. As an OT practitioner, I may also train a patient on the use of adaptive equipment, such as a seat belt extenders, swivel seats, additional mirrors or other basic adaptive driving aids. I may also operate as an educator in programs such as Car Fit to promote and train older adults on the safe use of a vehicle. As an OT practitioner, I may also create a transportation plan or passenger safety plan for an older adult who is not able to drive or access a car safely. Recently, my mother-in-law mentioned to me how she did not feel comfortable driving due to decreased vision and blood pressure issues. We discussed how she may maintain her independence despite not being able to drive through the use of her support system of friends and family. This allowed for me to see the comfort level of the driver is also …show more content…
First, learning activity analysis addressing any assists me in knowing the skills required so I can find out how I can remediate cognitive and/or physical limitations of the patient to achieve the goals. Then, tailoring the intervention through client-centered occupation-based strategies really allows me to look at patients as individual rather than as a general disability. Also, it is important to note how the Model of Human Occupation can be used as a guide to use volition, habituation and performance capacity to reach the patient through intervention. Finally, the Car Fit training allowed me to learn how to educate older adults on safety guidelines for use of their
I am applying the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: domain and process to my life to produce an occupational profile. Objective of this paper is to synthesize therapeutic potentials and transactional relationships between my occupations and contexts. The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process, 3rd edition is an official document of American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA, 2014). It is intended for occupational therapy practitioners and students, other health care professionals, educators, researchers, payers, and consumers. The Framework presents a summary of interrelated constructs that describe occupational therapy practice. The Framework does not serve as a taxonomy, theory, or model of occupational therapy.
Once a resident has improved with their mobility its down to the care staff to help encourage them to continue using this daily life skill by encouraging them to be as independent as possible with things they are known they are able to do reporting any
To be in good health not only means freedom from illness but also free from injury and pain. Occupational therapists assist older adults, with the addition of those with disabilities, to age in an environment of their choice by developing partnerships with other older adults, family caregivers and importantly through support for safe, accessible and affordable living options and community environments. These health care professionals also foster older adults’ well-being by supporting their opportunities to learn, becoming accustomed to and manage their health/ability challenges as they become apparent, engage in occupations that allow for self-expression and encourage feelings of
As occupational therapy services diversified, serving a variety of clients in many different settings and with societal influences, the field began to evolve. During the 1990s occupational therapists began to shift away from reductionist medical model toward a more holistic client-centered approach. Services focused on enhancing individuals’ quality of life across the lifespan meaning before, during, and after therapeutic intervention. The profession began to better acknowledge the value of client education, injury and illness prevention, health screening, and health maintenance (Cole & Tufano, 2008). The field created more preventative initiatives, and focused services on improving quality of life and optimizing the independence of
To be able to participate in one 's own life, to do the things we want to do, and to competently perform the activities that form part of our daily, weekly or monthly routines, is a common goal for most people. This not only includes taking part in the basic activities of self-care, such as grooming and dressing, but also extends to our work and leisure activities. It is through doing things that we learn and develop as human beings. The occupational therapy profession believes that being prevented or hindered in some way from participating in the activities that are important to us could adversely affect our health and wellbeing.
This papers purpose is to describe to the reader an Occupational therapy treatment plan and therapy session using the OTPF as its base to describe client’s performance. It is based off a case study of a 26 year old male racecar driver who suffered a traumatic brain injury and is now admitted into the hospitals ICU unit under a coma. The paper begins with a brief overview of the clients Injuries and occupational profile. It continues with goals that the therapist has set for the client and caregivers and concludes with the client’s treatment plan, along with a SOAP note which explains the client’s treatment and gives other healthcare workers information about the therapists goals and progress of the client
Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental ADL –self-care activities due to lack of interest or pleasure, home-making, driving, dressing, and eating Addressing functional use of her right hand will optimize independence with ADLS
A clinical situation that has taken place that has enabled me to incorporate the “Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain and Process (3rd Ed.)” (AOTA, 2014) into my approach was when an individual that has had a car accident during an ice storm. We will refer to this individual as Jane. She was a 55 years old housewife that was the primary
Children with many different disabilities need the intervention of an occupational therapist; therefore, occupational therapists work in the school systems. Elderly people often begin to lose their physical ability to do certain tasks, so there are occupational therapists working in nursing homes or providing in home care. Many athletes suffer sports injuries that cause them to lose their ability to do daily activities, and occupational therapists are available to them in rehabilitation centers and hospitals. These are just a few of the many scenarios where occupational therapists are available; they can also work in orthopedic centers, colleges, mental health settings, and drug and alcohol settings (Hoffman & Harris, 2000, p. 405). Due to the fact that occupational therapists can often specialize to a certain type of patient, it may be helpful to hold a job in college where one could learn how to work with that group of people. For instance, if a prospective occupational therapy student wants to work in a preschool for students with special needs after they graduate then it may be beneficial to hold a job as an assistant preschool teacher. Similarly, if the goal of an occupational therapy student is to provide their service to elderly people then training and working as a CNA would provide both useful experience and medial
Seventeen. Seventeen men and boys who never got the opportunity to have a future. Seventeen families who grieved and lost hours of sleep, waiting on their son, brother, or friend to come home but never would. Seventeen young lives taken by one of the most infamous serial killers in the history of the United States; Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer. Jeffrey Dahmer was much more than a murderer; he raped, ate, and sometimes preserved certain body parts of his victims. But, why? What drove this man to commit such gory and violent crimes? As a child, Dahmer experienced severe negligence by his parents. His mother was a stay-at-home mom (and psychologically ill) and his father was a student at Marquette University. Jeffery’s father traveled for his studies and was never in the household. This engendered his mother’s desire for her husband’s affection but never received it due to his absence. The problems that existed between them provoked a lack of the childhood care that young Jeffery needed. He was often lonely and excluded himself from people. As a child, Dahmer had an extreme and odd fascination in the dismemberment of animals. His parents never gave it much attention and thought this interest was very normal. This was only the beginning of Jeffery’s anatomic study of dead beings. Dahmer may seem like a complete psychopath and indeed he was, but he is only one of thousands of serial
The loss of physical strength makes it difficult to maneuver a motor vehicle. A Driver is required to use necessary body parts such as their head and neck to check for blind spots before changing lanes and their hands and arms to grip the steering wheel. Elderly driver’s reflexes are much slower than when they were younger. Their response time to traffic signals, reacting to unexpected pedestrians and other motorists moving in front of them is slower.
Many concerns have been expressed about the potential dangers elderly drivers present when operating a vehicle. Mental and physical capabilities begin to decline as a person ages. When their health deteriorates, the well being of other individuals on the road is at stake. Many elderly drivers should not drive due to their medical history and the fact that they might suffer from possible side effects from taking multiple prescription medicines. In addition, local organizations and neighbors can provide transportation for the elderly to keep them from endangering themselves and others. The threat senior citizens create when driving can be avoided if they are tested to ensure their competence as a driver.
While my Granny’s passengers knew about her ineptitude for driving, other drivers were unaware of the danger passing them by. Individuals over 85, who drive, have a four times higher fatality rate than teenagers (Landphair). There are many news stories regarding elderly people who have caused numerous deaths by simply confusing the gas and brake pedals (Landphair). Some contribute these accidents to a decline in vision and cognitive functioning, two factors essential to safe driving. Studies have also shown that if older individuals are under pressure, they tend to make more driving errors than teens (Charles).
“An eighty-six year old man killed ten people and injured more than seventy when he drove his Buick into a crowded farmers market in California. In Florida, an eighty-four year old woman drove her car through a window of a Sears and into a cash register and employee” (Murphy). Sadly enough, instances like these are becoming more and more prevalent and require immediate action. It is imperative that a more comprehensive approach be taken when deciding the competence of elderly drivers. Laws must be put into action to mandate and administer testing and re-examining of the skills and eligibility of this group. Equally important, we must consider those who will no longer be able to drive, and ensure their transportation and occupational needs
A clinical situation that has taken place that has enabled me to incorporate the “Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain and Process (3rd Ed.)” (AOTA, 2014) into my approach was when an individual that has had a car accident during an ice storm. We will refer to this individual as Jane. She was a 55 year old housewife that was the primary caretaker of her husband who had suffered a stroke a few years ago. Jane took care of all the home management as well as transportation and health care needs for her husband. Jane was very active in her community as well as her family that lived several hours away.