Occupational therapy for dementia

Dementia is a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

Dementia or Alzheimers disease is the 6th leading cause of death. It is the most common form of dementia that affects 60-65% percent of people with dementia worldwide. According to Alzheimer Society of Bangladesh it is estimated that there are about 4,60,000 people with dementia in Bangladesh in 2015 while the number will rise to 8,34,000 in 2030 and 21,93,000 in 2050 respectively.

Dementia is a progressive condition, which may not be detected in the early stages.  Some of the symptoms of dementia may wrongly be put down told age. These could include:

 Forgetfulness

Confusion about time and place

Difficulty in doing everyday tasks

Changes in judgment

 Withdrawal from taking part in everyday activities

Difficulty in solving things that were not previously a problem

Occupational therapists are health and social care professionals who enable people to live life their way – helping  people to keep up their everyday activities and remain independent for as long as possible after they develop dementia.

How an occupational therapist can help

 Communicating and sharing memories

An occupational therapist can show you how to use reminiscence and life story work to share with your mother, bringing back smiles and even tears, but allowing her to tell you things from the past that you did not know – making her feel more confident, at peace and secure in herself.

Adapting your home environment to make life easier

An occupational therapist understands how exercise can help relieve anxiety and depression in dementia and can recommend suitable exercise.  They can also advise on what you can do to help the person remain independent, by making some changes around the home and advising on adaptation and equipment that can be purchased or loaned from health and social services.

Improving safety in the home

An occupational therapist knows about safety devices and alarms that are low cost or free and readily available. All occupational therapists are trained and have experience that help people avoid falling over and getting injured and can offer practical advice that will help you remain safe in your own home.

Advising carers

An occupational therapist can advise carers how to support someone living with dementia. For example, encouraging you and your loved one to continue doing household activities together. This will help to maintain skills, routine and role.

What is an occupational therapist?

Occupational therapists are health and social care professionals who help people of all ages – babies, children, adults and older people to carry out activities they need or want to do, but as a result of physical or mental illness, disability or being socially excluded, they are prevented from doing the activities they value. These could include the everyday necessities of daily living such as preparing a meal, or getting dressed, going to school or work, or simply continuing with a favorite hobby. Occupational therapists will work with individuals to find alternative ways to do those activities to help people live life their way.

An occupational therapist can:

Provide help and training in undertaking daily activities such as bathing,    dressing, eating, playing and participating in a favorite hobby

 Help people with work–related stress to re-priorities and improve their  work–life balance

 Assess and recommend equipment such as mobility aids, wheelchairs and artificial limbs and, if needed, advise on special devices to help around the home, school or workplace

Support people to remain in or return to work

A few examples (see table) illustrate potential occupational therapy interventions to promote optimal functioning for people with dementia and their families and care providers. These examples are somewhat simplified, because during actual intervention occupational therapists complete in-depth evaluations and activity analyses to determine the typical demands of any pertinent activity. They also use critical thinking to ensure that the person has the most supportive environment to enhance functioning, while promoting the person’s strengths and abilities (AOTA, 2008).

In the early stages of dementia, when the person is having difficulty with higher-level executive skills, he or she may be referred to occupational therapy for driving, work, and home safety evaluation and intervention.

Practitioners may assist these clients by working on those tasks deemed important; for example, perhaps in establishing a life legacy (e.g., written, auditory, or pictorial life story). In the middle stages, home safety and staying engaged in personally meaningful tasks become the paramount focus. During the late stages, when the person may be having difficulty with basic activities of daily living (e.g., feeding, toileting, mobility) the focus may switch to decreasing caregiver burden and enhancing basic care (e.g., safe transfers, skin protection, avoiding contractures, providing enjoyable sensory stimulation).

Conclusion

Enhancing function, promoting relationships and social participation, and finding ways for those with dementia to enjoy life are the keys to successful occupational therapy intervention (Schaber & Lieberman, 2010). Providing education for the family, care providers, and clients (as they are able to understand), and promoting the person’s strengths, will ensure that those with dementia and their care providers have the support needed to live life to its fullest.

Occupational therapy for dementia

Dementia is a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning. Dementia or Alzheimers disease is the 6th leading cause of death. It is the most common form of dementia that affects 60-65% percent of people with dementia worldwide. According to Alzheimer Society of Bangladesh it is estimated that there are about 4,60,000 people with dementia in Bangladesh in 2015 while the number will rise to 8,34,000 in 2030 and 21,93,000 in 2050 respectively. Dementia is a progressive condition, which may not be detected in the early stages. Some of the symptoms of dementia may wrongly be put down told age. These could include: Forgetfulness Confusion about time and place Difficulty in doing everyday tasks Changes in judgment Withdrawal from taking part in everyday activities Difficulty in solving things that were not previously a problem Occupational therapists are health and social care professionals who enable people to live life their way helping people to keep up their everyday activities and remain independent for as long as possible after they develop dementia. How an occupational therapist can help Communicating and sharing memories An occupational therapist can show you how to use reminiscence and life story work to share with your mother, bringing back smiles and even tears, but allowing her to tell you things from the past that you did not know making her feel more confident, at peace and secure in herself. Adapting your home environment to make life easier An occupational therapist understands how exercise can help relieve anxiety and depression in dementia and can recommend suitable exercise. They can also advise on what you can do to help the person remain independent, by making some changes around the home and advising on adaptation and equipment that can be purchased or loaned from health and social services. Improving safety in the home An occupational therapist knows about safety devices and alarms that are low cost or free and readily available. All occupational therapists are trained and have experience that help people avoid falling over and getting injured and can offer practical advice that will help you remain safe in your own home. Advising carers An occupational therapist can advise carers how to support someone living with dementia. For example, encouraging you and your loved one to continue doing household activities together. This will help to maintain skills, routine and role. What is an occupational therapist? Occupational therapists are health and social care professionals who help people of all ages babies, children, adults and older people to carry out activities they need or want to do, but as a result of physical or mental illness, disability or being socially excluded, they are prevented from doing the activities they value. These could include the everyday necessities of daily living such as preparing a meal, or getting dressed, going to school or work, or simply continuing with a favorite hobby. Occupational therapists will work with individuals to find alternative ways to do those activities to help people live life their way. An occupational therapist can: Provide help and training in undertaking daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, playing and participating in a favorite hobby Help people with workrelated stress to re-priorities and improve their worklife balance Assess and recommend equipment such as mobility aids, wheelchairs and artificial limbs and, if needed, advise on special devices to help around the home, school or workplace Support people to remain in or return to work A few examples (see table) illustrate potential occupational therapy interventions to promote optimal functioning for people with dementia and their families and care providers. These examples are somewhat simplified, because during actual intervention occupational therapists complete in-depth evaluations and activity analyses to determine the typical demands of any pertinent activity. They also use critical thinking to ensure that the person has the most supportive environment to enhance functioning, while promoting the persons strengths and abilities (AOTA, 2008). In the early stages of dementia, when the person is having difficulty with higher-level executive skills, he or she may be referred to occupational therapy for driving, work, and home safety evaluation and intervention. Practitioners may assist these clients by working on those tasks deemed important; for example, perhaps in establishing a life legacy (e.g., written, auditory, or pictorial life story). In the middle stages, home safety and staying engaged in personally meaningful tasks become the paramount focus. During the late stages, when the person may be having difficulty with basic activities of daily living (e.g., feeding, toileting, mobility) the focus may switch to decreasing caregiver burden and enhancing basic care (e.g., safe transfers, skin protection, avoiding contractures, providing enjoyable sensory stimulation). Conclusion Enhancing function, promoting relationships and social participation, and finding ways for those with dementia to enjoy life are the keys to successful occupational therapy intervention (Schaber Lieberman, 2010). Providing education for the family, care providers, and clients (as they are able to understand), and promoting the persons strengths, will ensure that those with dementia and their care providers have the support needed to live life to its fullest.