Abstract
Aging is a unique process for everyone; therefore, there is no one solution or uniform standard for helping older adults age well and productively. Occupational therapists often work with older adults to enable them to age in their own homes, make modifications to or adapt activities of daily living, leisure and work environments or improve skills to help them do the things they want and need to do. As occupational therapists, we understand the intersection of how we occupy our time in activities of daily living, work, and leisure skills (i.e., occupations), the environment in which we do our occupations, and the changes an older person may experience that may directly influence optimal engagement. As we age, there is at least some degree of cognitive, physical, sensory, and psychosocial changes that potentially impact the ability to perform meaningful and necessary occupations. In the training to become an occupational therapist, students need to understand the complexity of the biological, social, and emotional changes and how to respond and help a person adapt to those changes.
The purpose of this lab manual is to consider both normal and pathological aspects of aging and apply this understanding to the Occupational Therapy (OT) process of evaluation, assessment, intervention planning, intervention implementation, outcome measurement, and discharge planning. The lab manual is designed to guide the student through the occupational therapy process, appropriate for our scope of practice, using case studies role-played in a peer-to-peer fashion. The lab manual closely aligns with the OT Practice Framework: Domain and Process 4th Edition (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020) to promote the continued use of the evidence-based approaches.
Translational Significance
· The lab manual bridges theory and practice by providing real-world case studies for occupational therapy students working with older adults.
· It emphasizes evidence-based approaches, aligning with the OT Practice Framework and incorporating current research into evaluation and intervention processes.
· The manual fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills through active learning with diverse cases.
· It guides students through a structured OT process, preparing them for translating theoretical knowledge into effective interventions.
· The manual promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, recognizing the holistic nature of aging.
· Its open-access format allows customization, supporting the application of translational health science principles to local contexts.