Meal preparation can be an overwhelming burden. When coming home from the hospital or a stay in rehab, people may find themselves running out of energy when making a meal. This handout provides strategies to simplify the tasks so that they aren’t wasting any energy.
This handout provides a brief explanation of the “spoon theory” metaphor used to describe the amount of mental or physical energy a person has available for daily activities. This handout can be used to describe and apply the theory with patients and then as a visual reminder.
There are many technological tools that can assist people as they age so that they can stay at home as safely and as independently as possible. This handout provides 5 considerations for patients and their families to consider.
Handout includes several ideas for reduction of fall risk during pet care, including raised feeders, sitting to feed, finding assistance, and ways to manage walking a dog to improve safety and independence with this vital home management task.
Occupational therapists are skilled at adaptation, however, sometimes clinicians go straight into recommending adaptive strategies without identifying what will be best for the patient/caregiver. This handout provides important questions to ask when considering the use of adaptive strategies with neurodegenerative disorders.
An individual’s ability to care for their pets is an important part of returning to independent living. This tool helps to assess an individual’s personal needs for the caring for pets IADL, and provides direction for setting specific therapy goals.
This resource includes the risks of stovetop cooking and many simple meal option “recipe cards” to make during a treatment session using only a microwave. Use to assess whether simplification of home cooking improves functional independence or if ongoing assistance will be required.