Occupational Therapy in Long-Term Care Setting

Description of the Environment of Practice

Occupational therapy is a health profession providing service to people whose lives have been disrupted by physical injury or illness, developmental problems, the aging process, or social and psychological difficulties. The goal of occupational therapy is to assist each individual in achieving an independent, producing, and satisfying life.

Most elderly persons receiving occupational therapy in the contemporary period receive such services in nursing homes or in other skilled nursing facilities. Health care economics in the United States is in a state of turmoil as a result of dynamic changes occurring in the health services environment. The contemporary health services sector is comprised of a wide variety of types of health care providers. Health maintenance organizations, behavioral medicine clinics, nursing homes, and general acute care hospitals are among the major components of the health services sector. A major and growing source of change for health care economics is the presence of corporate health care providers as major players in the health services sector. Occupational therapy is provided through each of these venues for elderly patients.

The Role of Occupational Therapy in Long-Term Care For the Elderly

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plan of treatment. Specific evaluations performed by occupational therapists include the following: perceptual-motor functions, range of motion capabilities, muscle testing, sensation, activities of daily living, bed mobility, homemaking, equipment needs, orthopedic requirements, and adaptive aids (Humerickhouse, Cassety, & Davis, 1993). Treatment plans employed by occupational therapists may include the following: muscle strengthening activities, range of motion activities, joint mobilization exercises, coordination and dexterity training, activities of daily living, homemaking, and psychosocial functioning. Within a nursing home environment, the area wherein an occupational therapist will practice depends upon the policies of each institution (Kruzek, 1997). Many nursing homes provide an occupational treatment and exercise area to which all patients are moved for the period of their occupational therapy services (Cefalu, 1995). Some nursing homes are moving toward the conduct of occupational therapy services within the rooms of nursing home patients. This approach, however, requires that patient rooms be large enough to accommodate occupational therapy equipment and treatment activities, and that nursing home administrati
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Approximate Word count = 1593
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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