Supporting caregivers: Alternative strategies to fuel healthy aging.

Occupational therapy (OT) support for caregivers is a cornerstone of healthy aging—empowering families to maintain safe, supportive, and engaging environments that foster independence and wellbeing for older adults. Research reveals that caregiver strain affects not only the caregiver’s health but also the quality of life and outcomes of those receiving care, making professional OT insights especially vital.

Why OT Support for Caregivers Fuels Healthy Aging

Caregivers influence nearly every aspect of a loved one’s aging experience, from daily routines to safety and social participation. Occupational therapists guide families in balancing the preservation of independence with optimal assistance, directly impacting physical, cognitive, and emotional wellness (Archer, 2025).

Evidence-Based Benefits

• A 2022 systematic review found that individualized OT interventions for caregivers of older adults improve care recipient mobility, reduce falls, and enhance engagement in meaningful activities, fostering greater independence at home (Rollins, 2021).
• Studies highlight that occupational therapy-led caregiver education programs reduce caregiver stress, prevent burnout, and improve both parties’ satisfaction and quality of life. Care recipients fare better—living longer, maintaining routines, and avoiding unnecessary institutionalization—when caregivers receive professional OT support (Delman, N.D.).
• Integrating OT strategies (environmental modification, skill-building, adaptive equipment) increases loved ones’ participation in daily activities, a proven predictor of healthy aging and emotional well-being (Sutherland & Smith, 2024).

Practical OT Tips for Caregivers

Supporting Independence and Safety

• Promote Doing, Not Just Helping: Collaborate with OTs to adapt tasks so older adults do as much as possible themselves—helps maintain physical function and self-esteem.
• Home Safety Modifications: Install grab bars, improve lighting, declutter walkways, and use adaptive equipment for safer daily mobility (Archer, 2025).
• Safe Transfers and Body Mechanics: OTs teach correct techniques, lowering risk of injury for caregiver and loved one (StrokeOT, N.D.).

Meaningful Engagement

• Rituals and Routines: With OT guidance, establish personalized daily schedules built around preferred activities and social connections (Sutherland & Smith, 2024).
• Encourage Hobbies and Social Interaction: OTs help identify and support activities that keep seniors engaged—such as crafts, music, tech use, and community outings—supporting cognitive and emotional health.

Caregiver Wellbeing

• Stress Management and Burnout Prevention: Occupational therapy teaches mindfulness, self-care strategies, and connects caregivers with support resources—crucial for sustaining caregiving over time.
• Education and Peer Support: OTs connect families with practical education programs, local support groups, and evidence-based resources to strengthen skills and reduce isolation.

Archer, B. (2025). Enhancing in-home care: A guide for Occupational Therapists. Retrieved from: https://www.asksamie.com/blogs/answers-for-accessibility/enhancing-in-home-care-a-guide-for-occupational-therapists

Delman, R. N.D. OT for caregivers: How occupational therapy can support those who support others. Moxie OT. Retrieved from: https://www.moxieot.com/blog/ot-for-caregivers-how-occupational-therapy-can-support-those-who-support-others

Rollins, M. (2021). Preventing caregiver burnout. OccupationalTherapy.com, Article 5493. Available at https://OccupationalTherapy.com

StrokeOT, (N.D.). Caregiver Tips and Resources. Retrieved from: https://www.strokeot.org/caregiver-tips-and-resources2/

Sutherland, M., & Smith, K. (2024). Acute Care Occupational Therapy: Home Caregiver Resources. University of Michigan Health, Patient Education. Retrieved from: https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/PMR/OccupationalTherapy/AcuteCareOTHomeCaregiverResources.pdf