OT IN RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE.. THE ART OF "DOING."

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For many OTs, working in Australian residential aged care can be challenging because of the “system” and funding and what our role is perceived to be.

I get called “the physio” daily.. and yes, our roles do overlap and I think our jobs are often perceived to be very similar (in residential aged care); which is likely heavily influenced by the funding instrument we are guided by - as this guides a lot of “what we do.” 
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Now more than ever I am reflecting on our profession and what is at our core. Aged care has allowed me to see so much potential in what OTs can do to make a difference, but has also led me to see the challenges that often get in the way.

The other day I offered a “pain treatment” to a resident and she declined; she didn’t want a massage that day. I could see some dice and Yahtzee score cards hidden under a pile on her dressing table and asked if she wanted a game, she was over the moon I had asked and agreed with so much excitement.

What I observed:
- She smiled the whole game
- She conversed more than I had ever seen
- She didn’t complain of pain
- She laughed, especially when I made her aware that she was beating me
- She used her brain to count and add (mental stimulation... tick!!)
- She worked on her fine motor dexterity skills (helping her to continue to be able to button her shirts and do up zips)
- She helped me (so much sense of empowerment and purpose!!)
- She said thank you about 100 (slight exaggeration, but you get what I mean!) times throughout; thanking me for taking the time out of my day to play her favourite game with her

This. is. occupational.therapy!!
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Finding what is meaningful to someone and supporting them to do it.

Now my next plan of attack will be to support this resident to engage in Yahtzee on a regular basis without me having to be there... any ideas on how I can go about doing this?! 💡

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