Occupational Therapy, It Helps

Occupational therapy? Honestly, I had no idea what in home occupational therapy was. My mother-in-law has benefited greatly by her physical therapist, and I didn't understand why we couldn't just continue with him. He was so friendly, helpful and his help benefited her greatly. She was stronger and more confident from physical therapy.

It turns out that our loved one was required to have occupational therapy before she could continue with her physical therapist. I am glad that she was. Even though she was stronger after her physical therapy sessions, it did not always translate into the ability and capacity to do everyday things. This is where occupational therapy came in.

The role of in-home occupational therapy for Alzheimer's

Her occupational therapist (OT), Lea, has been friendly and firm and has high expectations for my mother-in-law. She has her climbing stairs with ankle weights and walking up and down slight inclines. My loved one has increased core strength, which has translated into better over balance and steadiness.

Not only has my mother-in-law been able to navigate stairs because of occupational therapy, she is also more flexible and agile. She can walk around chairs and tables and seems to have a better sense of spatial awareness, which is very important with our dog around.

The benefits of OT

Lea has helped my mother-in-law with her fine motor skills as well. This means activities like eating with utensils, putting on shoes and tying shoelaces. I have seen a dramatic improvement in my loved one's ability to dress herself from head to toe and even clean herself. As you can imagine, this has made my life easier as well.

Choosing the right OT for Alzheimer's care

Based on these experiences, I can recommend an in-home occupational therapist for anyone suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Here are my thoughts when choosing someone:

• Find someone who is kind, sensitive, and easy-going. They should be nice to be around not only for the patient but for caregivers, family, pets, and friends. They come into the home, and you must be comfortable with each other.
• Find someone who will challenge your loved one. This means that they initially assess their capacity and capabilities and then track their progress. They understand your loved one's sensibilities. Lea knows that my loved one adores birds, so they often will look at the feeders outside during breaks.
• Find someone who has a good understanding of the medical and physical needs of your loved one. She always takes her blood pressure and asks good questions to monitor how she is feeling.
• Find someone who is a good communicator. Lea talks with us about our loved one's current condition and uses that communication to help inform her therapy sessions.
• Find someone who relates to the wider therapeutic and medical communities. Lea knows my mother-in-law's physical therapist, and has access to helpful information about her previous treatments. They work together to benefit their patients.

How OT enhances quality of life

Occupational therapy makes sense for my mother-in-law and is making everyone's lives a little easier. We look forward to Lea's visits and so does our dog. Lea welcomes our puppy's attention when she comes for her regular visits.

What about you? What are your thoughts? What have been your experiences with an occupational therapist?