Another main focus of evidence-based OT intervention is caregiver training and education that aims to equip them so that they have an increased perceived competence and ability to handle and understand the behavior problems and functional decline of the person with NDD that they care for. More specifically, OTs can positively impact the lives of both the patient and the caregiver by taking time to work with the caregiver and train them in the NDD disease process, effective supervision, positive communication strategies, available resources, personal stress management, problem solving, coping strategies, and simplifications of instructions and commands (Edwards, 2015; Gitlin, Winter, et al., 2010; Schulz et al., 2002). There are a number of
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Things that influence quality of life, as identified by patients with NDD and their caregivers, include ability and opportunity to engage in pleasant actives, positive mood, mobility, maintained physical and cognitive functioning, ability to participate in ADLs, and overall physical health (Logsdon et al., 2007). OT interventions thus have an impact on quality of life due to the interrelatedness of OT and its goals for NDD patients, in that as OTs are working towards other intervention focuses with individual patients, the goal of improved quality of life is also being met, because the same therapies that are used to manage negative behaviors and delay functional decline, also positively impact quality of life. Evidencing this statement, researchers completed a review of current research and found that OT interventions can improve quality of life as a result of their significant impact on areas identified to improve quality of life (Logsdon et al., 2007). The authors noted that the research articles they reviewed provide convincing evidence supporting the use of OT interventions to maintain functioning in community-residing individuals with dementia, and they also demonstrate that such interventions can improve caregivers’ affect, decrease caregiver burden, and increase feelings of competence and self-efficacy, all of which can result in improved [quality of life] for the person with dementia (Logsdon et al., 2007, p.
Things that influence quality of life, as identified by patients with NDD and their caregivers, include ability and opportunity to engage in pleasant actives, positive mood, mobility, maintained physical and cognitive functioning, ability to participate in ADLs, and overall physical health (Logsdon et al., 2007). OT interventions thus have an impact on quality of life due to the interrelatedness of OT and its goals for NDD patients, in that as OTs are working towards other intervention focuses with individual patients, the goal of improved quality of life is also being met, because the same therapies that are used to manage negative behaviors and delay functional decline, also positively impact quality of life. Evidencing this statement, researchers completed a review of current research and found that OT interventions can improve quality of life as a result of their significant impact on areas identified to improve quality of life (Logsdon et al., 2007). The authors noted that the research articles they reviewed provide convincing evidence supporting the use of OT interventions to maintain functioning in community-residing individuals with dementia, and they also demonstrate that such interventions can improve caregivers’ affect, decrease caregiver burden, and increase feelings of competence and self-efficacy, all of which can result in improved [quality of life] for the person with dementia (Logsdon et al., 2007, p.