Tag: health
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Educating Families on Sensory-Friendly Holiday Modifications: An OT’s Clinical Approach
November brings increased requests from families seeking strategies to help children with autism, sensory processing disorders, and other neurodivergent abilities navigate holiday celebrations. As occupational therapists, we can guide families in implementing evidence-based environmental modifications and sensory strategies that reduce overwhelm while maintaining meaningful participation. Clinical Assessment of Holiday Sensory Challenges During sessions preceding holidays,…
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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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Assessing and Modifying Homes for Clients with Diabetes: A Fall Prevention Guide for Therapists
As occupational therapists specializing in home modifications, understanding the diabetes-fall connection is essential for comprehensive client assessment and intervention planning. Clients with diabetes face twice the fall risk compared to those without diabetes, making our role in environmental assessment and modification critical to their safety and independence. Clinical Assessment of Diabetes-Related Fall Risk Factors During home evaluations,…
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HEAP-R: Elevating Home Safety Assessments for Persons with Dementia
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Occupational therapists (OTs) are uniquely positioned to help persons with dementia and their caregivers navigate the complex challenges of maintaining safety and independence at home. As dementia progresses, risks of accidents, confusion, and decreased function grow. To address these concerns systematically, evidence-based assessment tools are essential. The Home Environment Assessment…
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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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Government Shutdown Impact on Medicare Part B Therapy Services: What Occupational and Physical Therapists Need to Know
Government shutdown impacts Medicare Part B therapy services. Learn how occupational and physical therapists can navigate telehealth changes, claims processing delays, and reimbursement challenges during the October 2025 shutdown.
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Family Dynamics and Home Modifications: Navigating Resistance and Role Reversals During Holiday Visits
The text message arrived the week after Thanksgiving: “I saw Mom this weekend. She’s not okay. The house is a mess, she’s barely eating, and she almost fell right in front of me. I’ve been telling her for months she needs help but she won’t listen. Can you see her?” This scenario plays out in…
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Preparing Homes for Holiday Gatherings: A Proactive Approach for Family Visits
“Mom wants to host this year. It’ll be her first time since her stroke. She’s determined, but I’m terrified someone’s going to get hurt. We have three weeks. Can you help?” This daughter’s voice carried equal parts love and panic—a combination that occupational therapists hear often as the holiday season approaches. The good news? Three…
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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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Supporting Breast Cancer Survivors at Home: The OT’s Expanded Role
The call came at 8:30 on a Monday morning. Sarah’s voice was tight with frustration and worry. “Mom came home from her mastectomy two weeks ago. She’s doing okay, I think. But this morning she called me crying because she couldn’t lift her arm high enough to get her coffee mug from the cabinet. She…
The Home Accessibility Therapist LLC 