The concept of active aging has been promulgated for promoting well-being in older people. Rehabilitation plays an important role in helping elderly patients resume daily functioning and make adjustment to the environment. Functional task training is the core Occupational Therapy (OT) intervention to facilitate skill learning and enhance participation. The challenge is to devise appropriate training to the patients with individual needs in physical capacity, cognitive capacity and psycho-social aspect.
Rehabilitation of elderly patients has been enriched by various evidence-based modalities. Incorporated with the advancement of technology, specific training based on these evidence-based modalities can be delivered to the elderly patients with different needs. Assessment systems are now detecting even small changes in patient’s functional performance for giving the immediate and the required facilitation for task completion. Cognitive training has been programmed according to theory-based learning strategies for patients with dementia. Desirable stimulation can also be provided in group therapy through interactive technology for multiple users. Skill practice done in the environment relevant to the patient has been one of the OT training focuses. Training systems with virtual-reality technology serve this purpose well and offer more options for improving safety awareness in elderly patients.
The emergence of technology-led innovation in rehabilitation of elderly patients broadens the breadth and depth of training opportunities and optimizes their participation in activity training throughout the hospitalization phase to community phase. The key issue leading to successful application relies on the accurate analysis of the applicability of the equipment in meeting patients’ needs. The input from Occupational Therapists enables the right selection and proper usage of the technology.
Co-location with:
