OTA 224 Geriatric Theory & Practice

Explores normal development, common diagnoses, and occupational contexts associated with aging. Students learn theory and practice skills for performing assessments and providing treatment for geriatric clients. Emphasis is place on safety, activity analysis, therapeutic use of self, and documentation.

Credits

4

Prerequisite

Required: Admission into the OTA program.

Offered

Offered Fall only

Notes

Career Technical Education (CTE) Course

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Incorporate knowledge from prerequisite courses of anatomy, physiology, and psychology into occupational therapy practice with geriatric clients. Demonstrate an understanding of normal development in older adulthood. Examine personal and cultural beliefs related to death and dying. Describe common diagnoses of physical and mental health conditions seen in occupational therapy practice with geriatric clients. Relate geriatric occupational performance to occupational contexts. Gather data to contribute to the evaluation of geriatric clients, including information about occupational performance in ADL and IADL. Administer select screening and assessment instruments for geriatric clients according to protocol. Use occupational for the purpose of assessment. Contribute to the development of the intervention plan and intervention strategies through collaboration with the occupational therapist, using occupational theories, models, and frames of reference to support contributions. Use professional literature to support evidence based decision making. implement select interventions for geriatric client in a manner that is safe, effective, and ethical. Educate clients and caregiver to facilitate the development of skills in areas of occupation, as well as prevent disease and injury, promote health and wellness. Monitor client response to intervention. Assess need to continue, modify, or discontinue intervention, and make recommendation to occupational therapist accordingly. Communicate with client, caregivers, occupational therapist, and other healthcare team members appropriately, accurately, effectively, and in a clear and concise, and timely manner. Document occupational therapy service to ensure accountability of service provision and to meet standard for reimbursement of services, adhering to applicable facility, local, state, federal and reimbursement agencies.