OT and Dementia

Question 1

3 areas OT help

Answer 1

• Self care
• Productivity/household tasks
• Leisure

Question 2

What can lack of activity cause

Question 3

Symptoms of dementia

Answer 3

• Memory loss
• Reduced thinking and processing speed
• Difficulty with language
• Issues with reasoning, decision making, problem solving
• Difficulty controlling emotions/mood changes
• Personality changes
• Visual spatial difficulties - judging distance and depth
• Apathy/lack interest
• Disorientation to time, date or location
• Motor/movement problems

The above interfere with daily life and activities

Question 4

What is a functional assessment?

Answer 4

• Observe, gather information and evaluate ADLs
• Involves activity analysis - component parts broken down - observe and evaluate abilities and difficulties
• Observe environment
• Do the demands of activity match the persons skills? if not may need to modify environment

Question 5

What can effects someones perfomance in task?

Answer 5

• Motivation
• Communication/interaction skills
• Motor skills
• Process skills

Question 6

Examples of functional assessments

Answer 6

• Hot drink assessments
• Meal/snack assessments
• Washing/dressing
• Household activities
• Community - road safety, going to shop
• Shopping
• Social group assessment
• Observe at work

Question 7

Second part of assessment?

Answer 7

• Problem solving and developing stratgies

Question 8

Examples of modifying activity/environment

Answer 8

• Written reminders - calender, whiteboards
• Simple written prompts eg label appliances
• Labelling cupboards
• Organise home environment - declutter, remove trip hazards, leave required items in visual field
• Assistive technology - calender clock, alexa, timers for cooking, medication dispensers, ring door bells
• Colour contrasting
• Equiptment - rails, stools, adaptive cutlery
• Sensory - ?hearing aids, glasses, mimimise environment stimulation eg noise/light

Question 9

Ensuring carers are helping people with dementia…

Answer 9

• Do not de-skill - encourage independence and work with strength
• Give simple instructions
• Avoid complex language
• Reassure and encourage
• Do not out pace - give them time

Question 10

OT - what activities csn be used as therapy?

Answer 10

• Find new activities that person can do
• Identify interests/groups
• Reminisce
• Sensory activities
• Life story - who and what is their identity