Aging in Place
In a society with the fastest growing population of individuals over the age of 60, aging in place is increasingly becoming a viable option for a significant portion of this community. The most straightforward description of this practice is aging without having to move. In occupational therapy, aging in place is mostly associated with practices within the home and community designed to provide an aging individual with the necessary resources and skills to maintain a productive life at home. Such methods include home modifications to ease the burden on aging individuals. Simply put, aging in place is a process that makes use of products, services, and conveniences to allow an individual not to have to move as circumstances shift. …show more content…
However, policy changes in the 1980’s have influenced practice patterns in Medicare environments. Current practices involve a keen interest in reducing the assistance needed to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL) as well as Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). IADL’s include activities such as laundry or meal preparation. Using ADL’s and IADL’s as criteria for discharge has, however, brought about challenges as practitioners fail to follow up. The resulting outcome undermines the long-term goals of aging in place.
Recent efforts suggest that aging in place is increasingly becoming an essential outcome to Medicare. As such, the CMS has enacted policy shifts to encourage this result. These policy shifts include revised documentation requirements. The CMS has tailored these documentation requirements towards follow up to ensure the long-term objectives of aging in place are secure.
Occupational therapy as a profession is increasingly becoming involved in the practice of aging in place. This approach is responsible for creating massive opportunities for practitioners involved in occupational therapy. To understand this trend, one will have to realize that Medicare coverage tailors its services based on medical necessity. This practice leaves aging individuals whose needs do not meet the thresholds of Medicare-covered therapy. This overlooked section of the population is driving the demand for alternative models for occupational
In a society with the fastest growing population of individuals over the age of 60, aging in place is increasingly becoming a viable option for a significant portion of this community. The most straightforward description of this practice is aging without having to move. In occupational therapy, aging in place is mostly associated with practices within the home and community designed to provide an aging individual with the necessary resources and skills to maintain a productive life at home. Such methods include home modifications to ease the burden on aging individuals. Simply put, aging in place is a process that makes use of products, services, and conveniences to allow an individual not to have to move as circumstances shift. …show more content…
However, policy changes in the 1980’s have influenced practice patterns in Medicare environments. Current practices involve a keen interest in reducing the assistance needed to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL) as well as Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). IADL’s include activities such as laundry or meal preparation. Using ADL’s and IADL’s as criteria for discharge has, however, brought about challenges as practitioners fail to follow up. The resulting outcome undermines the long-term goals of aging in place.
Recent efforts suggest that aging in place is increasingly becoming an essential outcome to Medicare. As such, the CMS has enacted policy shifts to encourage this result. These policy shifts include revised documentation requirements. The CMS has tailored these documentation requirements towards follow up to ensure the long-term objectives of aging in place are secure.
Occupational therapy as a profession is increasingly becoming involved in the practice of aging in place. This approach is responsible for creating massive opportunities for practitioners involved in occupational therapy. To understand this trend, one will have to realize that Medicare coverage tailors its services based on medical necessity. This practice leaves aging individuals whose needs do not meet the thresholds of Medicare-covered therapy. This overlooked section of the population is driving the demand for alternative models for occupational