Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Dr.OT)

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Health Care Sciences – Occupational Therapy Department

First Advisor

Lawrence Faulkner

Publication Date / Copyright Date

2019

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

Abstract

This capstone project explores the socio-political environment of current and potential community-based occupational therapy (OT) services among community-dwelling older adults, including the current state of community-based OT practice and the current awareness of OT’s potential impact on health and wellness among community-dwelling older adults. The goal is to identify how to increase the presence of OT in community settings to decrease the occupational injustice among the older adult population. The research method used is the Delphi Method, an anonymous structured communication between experts in the field of community-based OT practice and the older adult population. Experts, provided real-world knowledge and guidance to: 1. identify indicators that inhibit the presence of OT in community-based practice for the older adult, 2. identify if OT is a potential service within the community to improve health, wellness, and quality of life (QOL) for the prevention of disease among older adults, and 3. forecast how an increased presence of OT in community settings can decrease occupational injustice among the older adult population. Community-based OT practice was identified as a valuable service among older adults. Recommendations were established on how to increase community-based OT practice among older adults. Limitations were identified as to why OT is rare in community practice. A body of evidence, including this research, supports the need to address the OT profession’s theoretical, philosophical and practical perspective on community-based OT practice among older adults.

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Keywords

Community-based OT practice; Occupational injustice; Older adult population

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