Tag: mental-health
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Aging in Place Through Winter: Preparing Homes and Clients for the Season’s Unique Challenges
Winter presents distinct challenges for older adults aging in place, with cold weather, reduced daylight, increased isolation, and seasonal hazards all converging to threaten health, safety, and independence. As occupational therapists specializing in home modifications and aging in place support, we play a critical role in preparing clients and their environments for successful winter navigation.…
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Creating Accessible Holiday Spaces: Occupational Therapy Strategies for Inclusive Celebrations
The holiday season should be a time of joy and connection for all family members, including older adults and individuals with disabilities. Yet traditional holiday environments—with their decorative obstacles, temporary furniture arrangements, and activity-filled spaces—can create significant accessibility challenges that limit participation for those with mobility impairments, sensory needs, or functional limitations. As occupational therapists…
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Hoarding, Occupational Therapy, and the Holiday Season: A Compassionate Approach to a Complex Challenge
The holiday season brings joy, connection, and celebration for many families—but for individuals living with hoarding disorder and their loved ones, it can be a time of overwhelming stress, shame, and isolation. As occupational therapists specializing in home safety and accessibility, we have a unique opportunity to support this often-marginalized population through trauma-informed, occupation-based interventions…
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Part 2: Safety During Home Visits: Protocols and Systems for Winter Practice
Welcome to Part 2 of our winter safety series for home-visiting therapists. Part 1 addressed preparation—vehicle readiness, winter driving strategies, and personal health maintenance. Now we turn our attention to what happens once you arrive at patient homes: navigating winter-specific environmental hazards, implementing personal safety protocols during visits, and building comprehensive safety infrastructure whether you…
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Main-Floor Living: The Future of Accessible Home Design
Why Main-Floor Living Is Gaining Momentum The home building industry is experiencing a significant shift toward main-floor living design principles, driven by demographic trends and evolving consumer preferences. This architectural approach, which eliminates or minimizes the need for stair navigation by concentrating essential living spaces on a single level, is no longer reserved exclusively for…
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Beyond Generic Checklists: Why Personalized Home Modification Assessments Deliver Superior Outcomes
The Problem with One-Size-Fits-All Approaches Generic home modification checklists and standardized protocols have long dominated the aging-in-place industry, but research reveals a significant gap in effectiveness. A systematic review of home modifications for aging in place found that effectiveness varies considerably based on individualization of interventions, with many standardized approaches failing to account for the…
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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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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…
The Home Accessibility Therapist LLC 