A Case-analysis of the Disabled Elderly Supported by Community -based Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Examples of Occupational Therapy (OT) intervention for the elderly over the age of 65 in need of home health care have been selected from various literatures. In each example, goals and outcomes of OT interventions were analyzed and classified based on ICIDH and the guidelines issued by the Japanese OT Association. It was found that the ideal support for elderly people in need of nursing care who wish to remain in their homes is to intervene at the earliest possible stage. People with disabilities were the primary consumers of this OT care. It was suggested that the interventions include counseling and physical exercise instruction, including coordination training. In comparing those in institutional care (hospitals, nursing homes) and those living at home receiving home ADL, it was found that people who were institutionalized needed family support and those living at home needed consistent IADL support. It was also suggested that OT models based on levels of dementia should be discussed in the future.