Susan Blair – Successful Rehab for Today’s Older Adults: Functional Assessment and Intervention for the Geriatric Client

Outline

A NEW ROADMAP FOR GERIATRIC REHABILITATION

• Evidence-based practice
• Ethical considerations for the role of therapy with older adults
• Emerging clinical practice settings

UPDATE ON FRAILTY

• Techniques to distinguish frailty in vulnerable older adults
• The current recognized criteria for frailty
• Interventions to reduce frailty
• Realistic goals when failure to thrive is present

INVOLVEMENT OF THE GERIATRIC PATIENT IN GOAL SETTING AND COMMUNICATION

• Develop client-centered performance goals
• How to incorporate effective interactions with older adults
• Learn appropriate techniques for communication with older adults
• Strategies to address the challenges of low vision and hearing deficits

ASSESSMENT SOLUTIONS: COST-EFFECTIVE, PRACTICAL, STANDARDIZED/INDIVIDUALIZED, MULTIDISCIPLINARY TESTS

• ADL assessment
• Depression scale
• Frail scale
• Cognitive evaluations
• Sustained activity assessment

THE ROLE OF DEPRESSION

• Tips to recognize symptoms in the older adult
• Strategies to minimize the impact of depression on functional outcomes
• What is the therapist’s responsibility in depression intervention?

IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR FALL PREVENTION AND HOME SAFETY

• Fall risk assessment Intervention algorithm
• Educational resources

MEDICATION MANAGEMENT: AN EMERGING EPIDEMIC FOR OLDER ADULTS

• Tools for assessment of medication management skills
• Teaching older adults about medication safety
• Medication management device resource

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS

• The four barriers to independence: Low vision, accessibility, mobility and cognition
• Physical activity for the older adult is function
• 135 functional activities to do inside a home
• How important is memory and reminiscing?
• Digging in the dirt: Therapeutic gardening Man’s best friend: Pet therapy
• When driving is in question?
• Community resource creation