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Hello! Recently my 86 year old Mom's neurology recommended an OT visit my Mom. Does anyone have any experience with the role of an OT for their loved one with dementia? We also have PT coming in. Did the OT help your loved one?
Hi Lindsay My mom didn’t have dementia but she lived the last five years seeing an OT twice, sometimes three times a week. He became part of the family. She couldn't use her right arm w/o the therapy. She lived to 97. My DH aunt with dementia also had pt and ot. Usually not at the same time. One would come for a few weeks and then the other. She lived to 98. Hers was at the request of her neurologist as well and she was about your mom’s age when she started. Google benefits of occupational therapy for dementia patients. There are so many benefits. One big one is that her ability to continue to help with her ADLs is a big help to her caregivers. Having helpers early and often makes it easier for them to accept and be more comfortable with different caregivers going forward. Take all the help you can get.
Thank you for your reply! And wow, sounds like your Mom and husband's aunt must have been very well cared for with good genetics! I did google the benefits, and my brother interjected with "this is a waste of time" even though he has no involvement with arranging or facilitating (I'm sure there is a "difficult siblings" thread on this site somewhere!) I am with you about having helpers early and often and of the mine that having many layers of support and interactions is healthy for her, and that OT helps Mom, and all who are involved in her care. Thank you!
I found OT can be very helpful in suggesting equipment after coming out to see dementia person in their surroundings. Our OT person called in for assessment after another illness, initially realized mom had dementia. Mom could not follow her instructions so she did a short test for dementia. OT person recommended a memory clinic OT then came to give suggestions of walker, bath equipment, bed & bedroom equipment. Later another OT person came to see residence before allowing dementia patient to return to house after a stroke. She moved some furniture slightly in living room to make using a walker easier plus suggested a lower & less deep couch. OT also suggested a lift recliner & gave me measurements for both the couch & recliner. I went to local furniture store to purchase both with measurements in hand. It worked beautifully. Now mom is in a dementia facility with her recliner in her room. OT is coming for a wheelchair fitting so we get the right size chair with the attachments needed. We have been using a borrowed wheelchair that no longer fits. OT has been great! PT requires cooperation of dementia patient who after awhile may not be in that mind set. I found as the disease progresses you have to adapt & call in folks that can help with the aid of your doctor. Good luck!
The role of occupational therapy is to help overcome difficulties performing every day tasks, and to suggest and fit any medical devices that may be helpful. So for example if can't tie your shoes then switch to velcro or slip-ons; if you have difficulty with buttons try pullovers or if the difficulty is arthritic fingers then there are devices to help with that. Need help getting into the bath? Then there are transfer benches, grab bars or whole bath conversions, or they may suggest programs in the community that offer accessible bathing or ways to keep clean without using the bath. In early mild cognitive impairment they may offer strategies to help with keeping track of medications, appointments and daily tasks. Today much of this stuff can be figured out yourself by searching the internet, but in many cases if we don't know what we're looking for we can miss a lot of opportunities. Plus a local OT should know all about programs specific to your area as well as what government and insurance benefits may be available to help with costs.
Hello LindsayS..OT was helpful for my Mom..Gave her some strength so she could transfer and get up/down out of a chair. Also, helped with using her walker & balance.
Her sequential reasoning deteriorated in time, but I still continued OT for her..She loved her therapist.. He was a very kind, knowledgeable person & she enjoyed her time with him..
I do hope this helps.. 🙏🏼s, we know it’s a tough journey
No. DH couldn't learn or understand what PT was. Dad thought the hospice minister was the PT and wanted to know why he hadn't even worked his legs. Mom waited eagerly for her therapist, but she thought he was Elvis and that she was going to marry him.
With my DH, the PT and the OT ceased visits when they knew that DH didn't understand or respond. They both had a quiet conversation with me, saying essentially, "There's no point in continuing this because he cannot benefit from our services."
Thank you Fawnby. Sounds like your husband was further along in their dementia progression? Your Mom too? From what I've read it seems like it could help, but perhaps there is a point beyond which it's not as helpful.
Marrying Elvis seems like something excited to look forward to, anyway!
Just my opinon but I think OT is lost on people suffering from Dementia. If they can't bathe themselves, dress themselves, cook for themselves it because they have forgotten how and no OT can help them retain that information. The loss of shortterm memory just won't allow it. Mom had PT and OT in my house. I let the OT go because he really could not help Mom. OT is good for someone who has had a stroke and capable of learning a different way. Like the brain learning to use the other side. With Dementia the brain is dying little by little and cannot be brought back. I agree with Alva, OT may have been ordered just to evaluate.
My mother started both OT and PT when she was still in IL. Both were helpful. Between the two they helped make suggestions about equipment and transitions as she progressed from one cane to two, then a walker and now a rollator. They taught both her and those of us around her how to use each properly. She had bursitis in her hip which the PT worked wonders for. I don’t know how often she actually did the exercises when no one was there but I do know the two caregivers we had tried to encourage her to do them. I think she would let the therapists push her further, even when exercises were uncomfortable, than she’d let us. When there was a break in either service, such as when she reached the maximum number of visits covered, she would start to go downhill so we opted to continue with them and paid out of pocket. At that time she was fairly isolated and the social interactions were good for her as well. I think that having someone come to work specifically on encouraging her to move and work on certain issues also helped since, though she claimed she was exercising (we never saw her do it), it made her do more than she would have otherwise. She is now in MC and we have continued to have both. Their assessment of her abilities such as balance and ADLs have been very helpful and in both places I believe they helped her maintain those abilities longer than without the targeted therapies and have slowed her decline. They have also helped make suggestions on equipment to keep her safe beyond what the MC could provide. The MC has various exercise classes as well and between everything some of my mother’s physical problems have actually improved, much to my surprise! Anything to encourage her to remain physically active in ways that are fun for her and appropriate for her really seems beneficial. The input from both the OTs and PTs on their respective areas of concentration has continues to be very helpful as she progresses. My mother has benefited but I know that not everyone does nor does everyone enjoy it as much as my mother seems to. I do believe that their advice on products and their constant evaluation of how she is doing can be very useful in any case.
My Husband had PT and OT after he broke his hip and he was in rehab. I have to tell you that I was there for almost every PT that he had and if I wasn't there I do not think he would have done as well as he did. I was not there for many of the OT visits but I was told that it was done early as they were going through getting him to dress himself. I do not know what else they did. In general many people with dementia do not do well with PT and OT as they do not retain what was done in therapy AND family members are not there during the sessions and after to encourage the exercises that are done.
I would have to ask the Neurologist what he thinks the goal of the OT would be. Also ask the OT what their goal would be. Is it something that will improve her day to day living/activities? If this is going to add stress to her life and or yours then It probably is not worth it in the long run.
OT is involved with activities of daily livng or "ADLs", and I would imagine this visit is for evaluation? Of abilities to safely manage living alone, or at home? OT is usually a part of rehab and evaluation for homegoing. Has there been a recent incident or illness? Is PT also involved with your Mom, or is this simply evaluation.
Do know that the internet is your friend. You certainly can find out a lot about this evaluation by visiting and typing "Occupational Therapy" into the search bar. Wishing you best of luck.
Most folks with dementia aren't able to cooperate in OT to any appreciable extent other than for evaluation.
I do think it is for evaluation and for helping with her caregiving in her home. Mom still is able to cooperate and understand the requests, so I think in this brief window of time it may help.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
My mom didn’t have dementia but she lived the last five years seeing an OT twice, sometimes three times a week. He became part of the family. She couldn't use her right arm w/o the therapy. She lived to 97. My DH aunt with dementia also had pt and ot. Usually not at the same time. One would come for a few weeks and then the other. She lived to 98. Hers was at the request of her neurologist as well and she was about your mom’s age when she started.
Google benefits of occupational therapy for dementia patients. There are so many benefits. One big one is that her ability to continue to help with her ADLs is a big help to her caregivers.
Having helpers early and often makes it easier for them to accept and be more comfortable with different caregivers going forward. Take all the help you can get.
I did google the benefits, and my brother interjected with "this is a waste of time" even though he has no involvement with arranging or facilitating (I'm sure there is a "difficult siblings" thread on this site somewhere!)
I am with you about having helpers early and often and of the mine that having many layers of support and interactions is healthy for her, and that OT helps Mom, and all who are involved in her care.
Thank you!
Today much of this stuff can be figured out yourself by searching the internet, but in many cases if we don't know what we're looking for we can miss a lot of opportunities. Plus a local OT should know all about programs specific to your area as well as what government and insurance benefits may be available to help with costs.
Her sequential reasoning deteriorated in time, but I still continued OT for her..She loved her therapist.. He was a very kind, knowledgeable person & she enjoyed her time with him..
I do hope this helps.. 🙏🏼s, we know it’s a tough journey
With my DH, the PT and the OT ceased visits when they knew that DH didn't understand or respond. They both had a quiet conversation with me, saying essentially, "There's no point in continuing this because he cannot benefit from our services."
From what I've read it seems like it could help, but perhaps there is a point beyond which it's not as helpful.
Marrying Elvis seems like something excited to look forward to, anyway!
She is now in MC and we have continued to have both. Their assessment of her abilities such as balance and ADLs have been very helpful and in both places I believe they helped her maintain those abilities longer than without the targeted therapies and have slowed her decline. They have also helped make suggestions on equipment to keep her safe beyond what the MC could provide. The MC has various exercise classes as well and between everything some of my mother’s physical problems have actually improved, much to my surprise! Anything to encourage her to remain physically active in ways that are fun for her and appropriate for her really seems beneficial. The input from both the OTs and PTs on their respective areas of concentration has continues to be very helpful as she progresses.
My mother has benefited but I know that not everyone does nor does everyone enjoy it as much as my mother seems to. I do believe that their advice on products and their constant evaluation of how she is doing can be very useful in any case.
I have to tell you that I was there for almost every PT that he had and if I wasn't there I do not think he would have done as well as he did.
I was not there for many of the OT visits but I was told that it was done early as they were going through getting him to dress himself. I do not know what else they did.
In general many people with dementia do not do well with PT and OT as they do not retain what was done in therapy AND family members are not there during the sessions and after to encourage the exercises that are done.
I would have to ask the Neurologist what he thinks the goal of the OT would be.
Also ask the OT what their goal would be.
Is it something that will improve her day to day living/activities?
If this is going to add stress to her life and or yours then It probably is not worth it in the long run.
Has there been a recent incident or illness? Is PT also involved with your Mom, or is this simply evaluation.
Do know that the internet is your friend. You certainly can find out a lot about this evaluation by visiting and typing "Occupational Therapy" into the search bar.
Wishing you best of luck.
Most folks with dementia aren't able to cooperate in OT to any appreciable extent other than for evaluation.