The following post comes to us from our partners at FOX Rehabilitation who offer in-house physical, occupational, and speech* therapy. You’ll find FOX Rehab services in the following Autumn Leaves locations:

Autumn Leaves of Cityview (Texas)
Autumn Leaves of Cypresswood (Texas)
Autumn Leaves of Franklin (Wisconsin)

*Speech therapy may not be currently available at all locations

You’ve probably heard the term occupational therapy, but do you know how it differs from physical therapy and how it can greatly benefit the quality of our residents’ daily lives?

Occupational therapists focus on daily tasks; the routines and roles that fill up a person’s day and give meaning to who we are as individuals. Tasks that were once effortless can become challenging for older adult patients. Occupational therapists critically assess their patient’s tasks, the occupations of their life, and create a customized treatment plan to achieve the patient-specific goals.

We are proud to offer this service right here inside our Autumn Leaves communities! Reach out to your Director of Healthcare for more information!

What Does Occupational Therapy Address?

• Dressing
• Bathing
• Grooming
• Meal Preparation
• Medication Management
• Household Upkeep
• Environmental Obstacles
• Dementia-Related Limitations
• Caregiver Stress

How Occupational Therapy Helps

IMPROVED DAILY LIVING
Occupational therapists work to improve our patients’ process of getting up and ready for the day in the morning (Activities of Daily Living), and all the tasks that come afterward (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) that are part of the independent lifestyle. This full lifestyle is shown to improve health and quality of life in people with chronic disease. (Hand et al., 2011)

REDUCED CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE
Patients with dementia benefit from occupational therapy in a way that improves functionality enough to reduce a caregivers’ responsibilities. (Graff et al., 2006)

ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE
One study concluded that healthy lifestyle changes, along with involvement in meaningful occupations, produced measurably lower rates in depression and improved satisfaction with life. (Waite, 2011)

REDUCED FALLS
Occupational therapy programs feature home safety screening, home modifications, education, assistive technology, exercise to reduce fall risk and fear of falling, and nursing home admissions, as well as increase independence. (Chase et al., 2010)