Occupational Therapy Services - OTServices.ie - Paediatrics

Occupational Therapy Services for the elderly.

Seating and pressure care

The importance of adequate and supportive seating systems and pressure relief is a pivot role of Occupational Therapy with care of the elderly. OT Services provided assessments for people with specialised seating needs. With reduced mobility, it is vital that your elderly loved on is seated on an appropriate seat, which supports their posture and seating needs. The serious consequences of ineffective seating and pressure care can have a hugely significant effect on the health and wellbeing of the elderly person.

Accessible accommodation

Environmental adaptions are frequently required when returning to home or an alternative residential setting following a period of hospitalisation, following an injury or following a newly diagnosed condition. A comprehensive environmental assessment will be completed in the setting if required. This will then be followed by a comprehensive report which will outline the adaptions required and the equipment recommended if applicable. A follow up, after the recommendations have been completed, will also be provided.

Cognitive Assessments

Cognitive decline has a strong association with the elderly population. An Occupational Therapist can assist in screening the person to determine cognitive decline. This plays a pivot role when interpreting risk assessments and functional assessments amongst the elderly population

Functional Assessments

Functional assessments are vital to identifying the needs of an individual's when completing their personal care tasks such as dressing, grooming and washing. The OT will complete an in-depth assessment examining many factors that impact one's ability to perform these tasks. Following this, the assessor will provide a comprehensive report outlining any aids and appliances that are recommended.

Falls Prevention

With age the demands on postural control become challenged and this increases the risk of a fall. No two individuals are the same and this highlights the knowledge that risk is multifactorial. We carry out comprehensive risk assessments to help identify the risks present, and manage the needs of the individual. As therapists we establish our role in working with someone at risk of falls. In Ireland, approximately 250 older people die each year from falls. Three quarters of falls related deaths occur among those aged over 65.

Staff Training for the elderly - MANUAL HANDLING

Correct manual handling practises are essential for the wellbeing of clients/patients and staff and also to avoid injury. To ensure that the correct transfer methods are in situ, we analyse the control measures in situ. We observe the clinical team completing manual handling tasks during morning care, dayroom activities and dining room manual handling tasks.

Following this, a comprehensive report of the observations is provided. This includes recommendations on systems, training and related equipment needs. This report also includes the best prices on recommended equipment in addition to the location to purchase the equipment.

MEMBERS OF

The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) promotes Occupational Therapy through leadership, standards of practice, ethics, governance, education, research and advocacy on behalf of its members and in line with the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator. CORU'S role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals. It is made up of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the Registration Boards, one for each profession named in our Act and was set up under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended)

Elderly Care