Re: June 16 story, Seniors reduced to one bath a week at Northern Health facility
As BC's population continues to age, the need for medical services will continue to increase. For the senior population, supporting them to maintain their independence so they can participate in the necessary and meaningful activities of daily living (or "occupations" as our profession refers to them) as long as possible is incredibly important.
Seniors in any level of residential care should be thoroughly assessed and activities ("occupations") the senior needs and wants to do should be reviewed. Occupational therapists can support these assessments by determining the individual's abilities and making recommendations to enable the person to continue to participate as long as possible. These recommendations may include activity modification, modification to the environment or prescription of adaptive aids to support activities such as dressing, bathing and mobility. Not only would these recommendations support the senior to maintain as much independence in their activities as possible, but they can also support the home care staff that are delivering the services. For example, transfer aids can go a long way to preventing staff injuries and increasing the efficiency of the task. Unfortunately, there is inadequate access to occupational therapy services in home care and residential care in our Province.
We agree with Senior's Advocate Isobel Mackenzie that seniors should be able to bathe when then need and want to. Ensuring that seniors who receive home care or live in residential care have access to occupational therapy is a critical step to meeting that goal.
Sincerely,
Giovanna Boniface
Managing Director, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists / Association
