Tag: anxiety
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The Value of Occupational Therapy in the Home Environment: Educating Families and Referral Sources During National Home Care Month
November is National Home Care and Hospice Month, making it an ideal time to educate referral sources and families about the unique value occupational therapists bring to home-based practice. Home-based OT provides assessment and intervention advantages impossible to replicate in clinic settings, yet many potential clients and referral sources don’t fully understand these benefits. The Clinical…
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Invisible Accessibility: The 2025 Design Revolution
Gone are the days when “accessible” meant “clinical.” In 2025, the most effective home safety features are the ones you wouldn’t recognize as accessibility aids at all. Universal design has evolved from a specialized niche into the new standard for residential design, with homeowners embracing modifications that seamlessly blend function with style. This design revolution…
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Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Through Home Modifications: What Occupational Therapists Need to Know
Falls represent one of the most significant health risks for community-dwelling older adults, with approximately one-third experiencing at least one fall annually. As occupational therapy professionals, understanding evidence-based home modification strategies is critical for reducing fall risk and supporting aging in place. Recent systematic reviews have identified specific environmental modifications that can reduce fall rates…
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Therapist Self-Care During Mental Health Awareness Month: Preventing Burnout in Home Modification Practice
I sat in my car outside Mrs. Patterson’s house for ten minutes before I could make myself go inside. Not because her home was difficult—the evaluation would be straightforward, just grab bars and lighting. But because I knew what I would find. Another older adult living alone, struggling, afraid. Another story of decline that would…
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Beyond Grab Bars: How Home Environment Shapes Mental Health Recovery in Older Adults
Mrs. Chen sat across from me in the living room of her home, her hands folded tightly in her lap. At 73, she’d recovered well from her hip fracture. Her daughter had done everything right—installed grab bars in the bathroom, added a raised toilet seat, purchased a rolling walker, and even rearranged the bedroom furniture…
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Do home modifications impact mental health?
Occupational therapists specializing in home modifications have a unique, often under-leveraged role in promoting mental health—not just for clients, but for caregivers as well. Many therapists struggle with how to go beyond functional safety to address broader psychosocial needs or worry that recommending home modifications might add to family stress or expense. But current evidence…
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Empowering Clients for Inclusive Thanksgivings: An Occupational Therapist’s Guide
As occupational therapists, we play a crucial role in helping our clients navigate daily activities and participate fully in life’s meaningful events. With Thanksgiving approaching, it’s an opportune time to equip our clients and their families with strategies for creating inclusive celebrations. This guide offers practical interventions and advice that we can implement in our…
The Home Accessibility Therapist LLC 