Occupational therapy in patients suffering from dementia at a geriatric workplace

Summary

Occupational therapy is concerned mainly with self-sufficiency and cognitive activities. There are some handicaps to self-sufficiency which are caused by both physiological changes associated with old age and changes which are linked to the disease. It is very important to support people in those activities which they still can perform and to adapt them to the tempo and individuality of every patient. In a geriatric workplace, an occupational therapist generally encounters the most common diagnoses of this age group and tries to minimise their impact and give back to the patients their former quality of life (if possible). Occupational therapists mostly use practical exercises of self-sufficiency activities modified in a suitable way or practical exercises in using special aids in daily life.

Key words:
occupational therapy – self-sufficiency – special aids – dementia – growing old