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As April marks Occupational Therapy Month, it’s the perfect time to learn about how occupational therapy (OT) improves seniors’ lives.
Occupational therapy offers unique benefits tailored to enhancing everyday activities and promoting independence for elderly adults.
Let’s explore what occupational therapy entails, its distinct advantages for seniors, and how Charter Senior Living communities prioritize access to this essential service.
Occupational therapy is a holistic healthcare profession focused on helping individuals of all ages perform everyday tasks and activities more independently.
This form of therapy targets the practical aspects of daily life, such as dressing, cooking, and household chores.
Occupational therapists (OTs), including those specializing in geriatric occupational therapy, or geriatric OT, collaborate with clients to develop personalized treatment plans to improve functional abilities and enhance quality of life.
These plans address seniors’ unique needs and challenges, ensuring they can maintain independence and engage in meaningful activities to support their overall well-being.
A senior occupational therapist understands the specific needs of older adults and has the training and skill to provide comprehensive care that addresses mobility, cognition, and activities of daily living.
While occupational and physical therapy (PT) share some similarities, they are distinct disciplines with different focuses and goals.
PT primarily addresses physical impairments and mobility limitations, such as strength, balance, and range of motion, while OT promotes independence in everyday activities and improves cognitive abilities.
Both therapies can complement each other in a comprehensive treatment plan but serve distinct purposes tailored to individual needs.
OT offers a wide range of benefits for older adults, including:
One of the goals of occupational therapy is to help seniors maintain their independence by addressing challenges in performing everyday tasks, such as dressing, grooming, and meal preparation.
Occupational therapy for the elderly at home may focus on improving functional abilities to enhance the senior’s confidence and autonomy in managing their daily lives.
OT interventions focus on assessing and modifying the home environment to reduce risks of falls and improve safety. By addressing factors such as balance, strength, and home hazards, OT helps prevent falls and minimize the risk of injury for older adults.
OT includes cognitive rehabilitation techniques to improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills in seniors with cognitive impairments, such as memory loss or dementia.
OT interventions may include memory games, cognitive exercises, and strategies to support mental health and well-being.
By addressing barriers to participation in meaningful activities, OT enhances seniors’ overall quality of life and promotes social engagement, emotional well-being, and fulfillment in daily life.
Occupational therapy for older adults helps them with their health conditions. It addresses physical, cognitive, and emotional factors, aiding seniors with:
Arthritis
Stroke
Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia
Joint Replacements
Vision or Hearing Impairments
Chronic Pain
Mobility Limitations
Overall, OT supports seniors in living their best lives by improving functional abilities and quality of life.
At Charter Senior Living communities, OT isn’t just a supplementary service – it’s an integral component of the resident-centered approach to care.
Through strategic partnerships with onsite therapy providers and the provision of an onsite occupational therapist for seniors, Charter ensures that residents have convenient access to the support and resources they need to thrive in their daily lives.
These partnerships and onsite services enable Charter residents to receive personalized, evidence-based occupational therapy interventions tailored to their specific needs and goals.
OT professionals work closely with residents to develop individualized treatment plans that optimize functional abilities and maximize overall well-being.
The availability of onsite OT services further ensures continuity of care and seamless coordination between therapy providers, caregivers, and other interdisciplinary care team members.
This collaborative approach not only enhances the effectiveness of OT interventions but also facilitates communication and shared decision-making, ultimately benefiting residents and their families.
While April may be Occupational Therapy Month, occupational therapy is available year-round for residents of Charter Senior Living communities. Contact us to schedule a tour today.
Whether to enroll in Part B or use FEHB as primary coverage is a personal decision, based on your individual circumstances. You should look at the costs and benefits of each insurance plan and make the choice thats best for you.Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB)Cover current and retired government employeesAdministered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)Can be:Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): Have networks of providers that you usually must see. Out of network costs may be lower.Fee-for-service (FFS) plans: Allow you to see any medical provider, but you may have higher costs.When you become Medicare-eligible, you have a few options:Keep FEHB and turn down Medicare.Even if you have FEHB retiree coverage, it will continue to provide you with primary coverage if you dont enroll in Medicare. In this way, FEHB retiree coverage is different from most other retiree coverage.If you choose this option, consider turning down Medicare Part B but still enrolling in Part A. Part A is usually premium-free, meaning that you can have this additional coverage at no cost to you.Keep FEHB and enroll in Medicare.The two will work together to cover your health care costs, but you will owe premiums for both.Disenroll from FEHB and enroll in Medicare.You might not be able to enroll in FEHB again in the future if you change your mind.For a full list of questions to ask yourself when choosing the option that is best for you and more on identifying billing errors download this helpful handout by the Medicare Rights Center.Who to contact for more information: Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) if you want to discuss your Medicare enrollment options with a Medicare counselor. Contact your Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) if you may have experienced Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse. In Southwest Florida it is 866-413-5337 or email shineinfo@aaaswfl.org. Contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) if youre a federal employee or retiree and want to learn more about FEHB. You can call 317-212-0454 or visit www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance. Contact United States Postal Service (USPS) if you are a USPS employee, retiree, or eligible family member and need more information on PSHB. Current employees can visit www.liteblue.usps.gov and retirees can visit www.keepingposted.org.The Medicare Rights Center is the author of portions of the content in these materials but is not responsible for any content not authored by the Medicare Rights Center. This document was supported, in part, by grant numbers 90SATC0002 and 90MPRC0002 from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy. [April 2024]
Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by a federal agency, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time to recognize older Americans contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in our communities.This years theme, Powered by Connection, focuses on the profound impact that meaningful connections have on the well-being and health of older adults a relationship underscored by the U.S. Surgeon Generals Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.Its not just about having someone to chat with, its about the transformative potential of community engagement in enhancing mental, physical, and emotional well-being. By recognizing and nurturing the role that connectedness plays, we can mitigate issues like loneliness, ultimately promoting healthy aging for more Americans.How can community groups, businesses, and organizations mark OAM?Spread the word about the mental, physical, and emotional health benefits of social connection through professional and personal networks.Encourage social media followers to share their thoughts and stories of connection using hashtag #PoweredByConnection to inspire and uplift.Promote opportunities to engage, like cultural activities, recreational programs, and interactive virtual events.Connect older adults with local services, such as counseling, that can help them overcome obstacles to meaningful relationships and access to support systems.Host connection-centric events or programs where older adults can serve as mentors to peers, younger adults, or youths.What can individuals do to connect?Invite more connection into your life by finding a new passion, joining a social club, taking a class, or trying new activities in your community.Stay engaged in your community by giving back through volunteering, working, teaching, or mentoring.Invest time with people to build new relationships and discover deeper connections with your family, friends, colleagues, or neighbors.For free local events and services, visit our event calendar. For more information, visit the official OAM website and follow ACL on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #OlderAmericansMonth.
Many people assume that their family members would automatically be able to make decisions about medical treatments if they were to become incapacitated. However, rules vary greatly from state to state:Your family may have to go through a costly and time-consuming court process to get the legal right to make medical decisions for you.Your family members may disagree on who should make medical decisions on your behalf, which could lead to legal disputes.Someone unfamiliar with your preferences may be placed in charge of your treatment choices.Its important to have a plan ahead of time to avoid disagreements around treatment issues and to ensure your wishes are honored if you are incapacitated. Advance directives, living wills, health care proxies, and powers of attorney can help ensure that decisions made on your behalf meet your needs and preferences.Important documents to have include:Health care proxy Names someone you trust as your proxy, or your agent, to express your wishes and make health care decisions for you if youre unable to speak for yourself.Living will A written record of the type of medical care you would want in specified situations.Advance directive Often refers to a combination including both a living will and health care proxy documents.Power of attorney Names someone you trust as your agent to make property, financial, and other legal decisions on your behalf.For detailed tips on preparing these documents download the Preparing for Future Health Care Needs handout by the Medicare Rights Center. To understand how Medicare covers hospice and for answers to other Medicare coverage questions, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). You can visit www.shiphelp.org or call your local SHINE Medicare Counselors at 1-866-413-5337.
Charter Senior Living's Springwood Court in Fort Myers, Florida, offers exceptional assisted living services that enhance the human spirit. As part of Charter Senior Living, we are committed to providing a true sense of community and personalization to older adults with specific needs and wants.Our philosophy is simple: Do the right thing for residents, whatever it takes. We strive to improve the quality of life for residents and their families each day. We believe in cultivating warm, meaningful relationships among residents, staff, leadership, and families, creating a homelike neighborhood in Fort Myers that you wont find anywhere else.At Springwood Court, we specialize in assisted living, ensuring that every person who calls our community home lives their absolute best life, every single day. We offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere, an array of convenient services and amenities, exceptional programming, and a staff that treats every resident like family.Whether you're looking for yourself or a loved one, when you choose Charter Senior Living, you're choosing a community where you'll be welcomed with open arms, treated like family, and feel comfortable in a place where you'll find the best assisted living services.Contact us today to learn more about our community and schedule a tour. Visit us and experience the Charter Senior Living difference firsthand.