1. Overcome everyday challenges
Occupational therapists use education, exercise and rehabilitation techniques to help make daily tasks like getting dressed, eating, bathing and using the restroom easier for patients. Range-of-motion exercises can include something like sitting in a chair with your arms to your side and feet flat on the floor and slowly extending one leg out in front of you and holding it for a few seconds.
By focusing on what they can do rather than what they can’t, occupational therapists teach patients to do daily tasks safely based on their abilities. Regular occupational therapy like working on crossword puzzles, doing arts and crafts or reading a magazine can help patients sharpen their fine and basic motor skills, keep up their strength and improve their dexterity.
2. Recommend home modifications
Occupational therapists look at your parents' home layout to get a feel for how they move around their home every day. They recommend modifications like getting a bathtub seat or grab bars to make daily activities safer. Home modifications help prevent falls and instill confidence when doing everyday tasks:
- Walk in bathtubs and showers
- Installing grab bars
- Putting in slip-resistant flooring in bathrooms
- Power lift recliners
- Installing a home monitoring or medical alert system
3. Provide support for memory loss
Occupational therapy is key during the early stages of memory loss. Therapists assess a client’s cognitive ability and help address any changes in their behavior or personality through behavioral modification.
Occupational therapists help patients who are experiencing dementia by measuring their strengths and weaknesses and then identifying performance areas that need work. Even though there is no cure for the disease, therapy patients often show improvement through adaptation and compensation. A therapist can teach someone with dementia to use lists and other prompts to help with recollection. Here are some examples of how occupational therapists can help your loved one with memory loss:
- Providing engaging occupational tasks for people who engage in repetitive, non-productive behavior. So if the person used to like to do the newspaper’s daily crossword puzzle, providing them with simplified puzzles.
- Putting stop signs on fence gates or front doors for people who get disoriented or wander.
- Teaching caregivers non-defensive responding and orienting techniques for people who suffer from personality changes.
- Helping a caregiver place a limited clothing selection in the closet of a person who forgets what season it is.
Beyond memory benefits, occupational therapy provides important mental health support for elderly adults. Through relaxation techniques, mindfulness training and social activities, occupational therapists help patients manage depression and anxiety that often accompany aging. This comprehensive approach ensures both physical and emotional well-being.
4. Help with vision loss
If your parent or loved one suffers from vision loss, such as with glaucoma, an occupational therapist can work with them using activities that promote visual awareness, help them detect patterns and reinforce perceptual skills. An occupational therapist may suggest changes at home and work. Changes can include using color-coded ID tags, more lighting and contrast and aid equipment like magnifiers. They might also suggest removing clutter that could pose as a tripping hazard. Examples of visual therapy practices include:
- Putting bright orange stickers on dishwashers, microwaves and washing machines so it’s easier for a patient to know where to put their fingers and push.
- Painting walls white, painting outlet covers black and putting white tape around each outlet so someone with macular degeneration knows where to plug in an appliance.
- Color coding and labeling medication with brightly colored tabs and large print.
- Putting neon tape on steps to prevent trips and falls.
5. Provide caregiver assistance
Being a primary caregiver can take physical, emotional and financial tolls. Occupational therapists are trained to evaluate a caregiver's situation and help manage or alleviate their workload when necessary. The therapist's goal with a primary caregiver is to make sure they’re maintaining a lifestyle in which the patient’s needs are met without sacrificing their own. They do this in several ways:
- Recognizing the caregiver’s needs must be met along with the patients’.
- Encouraging caregivers to express all feelings: anger, stress, sadness and frustration.
- Implementing coping strategies and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits like exercise, group or individual therapy and hobbies.
- Keeping caregivers informed on current research about conditions and techniques so they can make better decisions.
6. Fall prevention
Falls are a serious concern for elderly adults - statistics show that one in four Americans over 65 falls each year, with an elderly adult being treated in the emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds. Occupational therapy plays a crucial role in preventing these accidents through exercises and home modification recommendations.
Occupational therapy plays a critical role in fall prevention by improving balance, coordination and muscle strength through targeted exercises. Therapists also evaluate the home for potential hazards — such as loose rugs, poor lighting or cluttered walkways — and recommend modifications to create a safer living environment.
This combined approach helps reduce the risk of falls, particularly for older adults or individuals with mobility challenges.
Differences between occupational therapy and physical therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) focuses on helping individuals regain independence in daily activities and routines, while physical therapy (PT) is centered on improving physical function, mobility and pain management.
- Occupational therapy: OT helps individuals perform activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, or cooking. Therapists take a holistic view — addressing physical, cognitive, emotional and social challenges. They tailor care to each person’s environment and lifestyle.
Common OT interventions include helping children develop fine motor skills, supporting people with mental health conditions in managing daily tasks or enabling stroke survivors to return to independent living. OTs work in hospitals, rehab centers, schools, outpatient clinics and home health settings.
- Physical therapy: PT is focused on restoring movement, building strength and reducing pain. Physical therapists treat musculoskeletal and neurological issues that limit mobility or cause discomfort. Treatment may include exercise, manual therapy and the use of modalities like heat, cold or electrical stimulation.
PTs commonly work with patients recovering from surgery, injury or chronic conditions, and practice in hospitals, outpatient clinics, sports medicine facilities and home care.
Bottom line
Maintaining independence as long as possible is a major goal as people get older. A dedicated occupational therapist can help patients stay active, safely do daily tasks and maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you think your parent or loved one could benefit from occupational therapy, ask your primary care doctor for a local recommendation.
Most health insurance plans, including Medicare, provide coverage for occupational therapy when prescribed by a healthcare provider. Check with your insurance carrier about specific coverage details and any required referrals or authorizations.
