Stay Safe and Independent: How OTs Can Help

Have you ever thought, “Occupational therapy? That’s for people who can’t do things anymore?” The truth is, you don’t have to wait until you’re in a crisis to benefit from Occupational therapy (OT). In fact, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association, healthy adults who participate in a whole home Occupational therapy evaluations are 47% less likely to experience a fall than healthy adults who did not have a whole home evaluation. While falls may seem common, they are NOT a natural or inevitable part of aging, and are often preventable. Occupational therapy (OT) in community spaces can help keep you active longer, doing the everyday things that are personally meaningful and necessary. OTs take a look at how you move, live, and stay busy, spotting risks you may not notice until they cause you trouble.  
An OT home safety evaluation helps ensure your home remains accessible by asking, “how can everyday tasks be done more easily and safely?” Slippery bathroom dangers, hard to reach everyday items can be Spoiler: if you have to stretch and hold your breath while doing gymnastics to get out of the bathtub, there’s probably a better way. Balancing on a chair in your slippers doesn’t have to be the only path to reach your favorite coffee mug.  
Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County’s HUD funded Older Adult Home Modification Program, offers access to OTs to help older adults fine-tune their home environments to better match each person’s unique skills, abilities, and priorities. Simple upgrades such as increased lighting on stairs can ensure early-morning walks don’t start with a misstep. Rearranging entry areas so winter coats, boots, and groceries don’t require risky reaching or tripping. Installing aesthetically pleasing grab bars that blend in provide balance support during a pain flare-up or on a “not so good” day. OTs can offer recommendations so you can make proactive decisions to maintain or improve your current function, not as a sign of decline, but an indicator of strength. 
Learn more by calling JFS at 734.769.0209 or visit www.jfsannarbor.org/wise.