Occupational Therapy - Healthy Older People

Don’t you know that occupational therapy keeps the health of the older people healthy? Well, this is one study that the University of Southern California had proven. According to the study, occupational therapy can help any elderly at their ages to remain healthy and in best shape.

Most of the older or elderly people do get occupational therapy right after a broken hop, a stroke or some other catastrophic events in life. Occupational therapy can be able to help the older or elderly people to relearn or maintain their daily activities such as household chores, shopping or grooming. However, there is a current study about preventive occupational therapy that can even keep those older people in tip-top shape even without health problems. The findings from the investigations of this study had contradicted the notion of keeping people healthy just by simply staying busy or socializing.

The study of occupational therapy as a method to keep older people healthy was very tedious. The research groups at the University of Southern California had divided the 361 volunteers aging from 60 years old and above into three groups. These three groups consist of older people going about their normal routines, engaged in some planned social activities and receiving sessions of occupational therapy. The volunteers comprising the three groups were followed then for a period of nine months. The volunteers assigned to the group that are engaged in social activities did not do any better after the study as they don’t have any interventions. Meanwhile, for the volunteers engaged in their normal routines and are receiving sessions of occupational therapy are declined over the nine months. The volunteers engaged in occupational therapy have scored better than the rests of the volunteers who are tested on their emotional and physical well-being.

During the sessions of occupational therapy, the volunteers are given some instructions from licensed occupational therapists to navigate public transportation systems in most ways. One sample of the instructions given to the volunteers is how to maximize personal safeness while taking more risks and that include visiting places they had never seen or never been yet. The volunteer are also given the instructions in protecting their joints from any injuries as well as advises for proper diet and exercises.

Occupational therapy is a preventive recommendation that can be used in conjunction with other services like managed healthcare programs. It helps burgeoned the older people to become more active and healthier in their lifestyle and every life. Currently in America, it is projected that 20% of the Americans will be in the age bracket of 65 years old and above by they year 2020. It is also projected on this year that 42% of Americans will be in the line of 75 and above. Then by the year 2030, people with ages of 85 and above will be doubled. Apparently, lower quality of life and poor health have something to do with aging people. So, to be able to prevent the results of aging, the preventions strategies of occupational therapy can help older people to remain healthy or healthier as well as living independently at a longer time!