Five Ways Occupational Therapy Helps Your Senior Get Her Life Back
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy in Loudoun County VA
If your elderly loved one has just overcome a major medical issue or health scare and it’s time for her to leave the hospital to return home, you can expect that she might need some treatment and guidance on how to regain some functions she may have lost during her recent medical emergency or treatment. Relearning these skills and possibly learning new ways to do things often are a part of a person’s occupational therapy as they re-enter their regular living environment, whether that’s living on her own or living with a caregiver.
Occupational therapy will help your loved one be able to once again enjoy activities that are important to her and will strive to improve her quality of life by remaining able to safely and independently manage everyday tasks that are important to her such as grooming, cooking, dressing, and so much more.
Four Benefits of Having In-Home Occupational Therapy
By having someone come to your loved one’s place of residence to provide occupational therapy, your loved one will receive personalized care that she can immediately apply to her daily living.
- Benefit 1: It’s personalized. If your loved one doesn’t need to learn about how to drive again, she won’t. But if that’s an important part of her recovery, she will. With In-home occupational therapy, the therapist will work directly with your loved one to find out what is important to her. The therapist also has the chance to see where your loved one lives and make any adjustments needed based on what is available to her in her home.
- Benefit 2: It protects your loved one’s health. If your loved one has a compromised immune system or is still in a weakened physical state as she recovers, it is safer for her to avoid large clinics with lots of people in them. Having just one person come to the home and provide the service can reduce her risk of exposure to germs and viruses in a public setting.
- Benefit 3: It offers a safe place to develop new skills. Learning something new or relearning an old skill can be stressful and cause anxiety. Being home in a comfortable environment while learning these skills can help reduce some of the anxiety levels that may be building up.
- Benefit 4: The whole family can be involved. If your senior is living with you, the occupational therapist can help you also learn how to assist her in daily living. The collaborative system creates a stronger network of support for your elderly loved one.
Skills that Occupational Therapy Can Assist With
The skills that an occupational therapist can help with are practically endless. Here are just a few:
- Fine motor skills like those needed in grooming and bathing. Learning how to hold a toothbrush or take a shower safely again can help your senior be more independent.
- Safely navigating the kitchen again. From sharp knives to heavy pots to all of the appliances, a kitchen can be a frightening place when returning home from a major medical event. Occupational therapy can help your loved one navigate this area again safely and with confidence.
- Fall prevention. By evaluating the home environment and teaching your loved one how to move about safely within it, an occupational therapist can help reduce the risk of falling for your senior.
If you or an aging loved one are considering occupational therapy in Loudoun County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities – call us today at (703) 369-6677.
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