Shifa is struggling.

I notice that my mother, Shifa, is having increasing difficulty moving around her house and getting out in the community. When I visit, I can see that she struggles to manage her home; housekeeping, laundry, cooking, and garden – it’s a lot for her. Mom also seems a bit unsteady on her feet and mentioned she hadn’t seen her friends at the coffee shop down the road. I am concerned she is afraid to get into the tub/shower unit and isn’t showering or bathing regularly. I am starting to worry about all these changes. I would like some advice on how to help her maintain her health and independence.

Shifa needs an OT.

The occupational therapist helped Shifa to:

• Consult with her local pharmacist. The pharmacist reviewed Shifa’s medications to ensure they were appropriate, up to date, being taken correctly and provided in packaging that she could manage.

• Complete a home safety assessment. The OT made a variety of suggestions with Shifa’s input. Furniture was moved around to make pathways clear. Tripping hazards like loose rugs were removed. Brighter lighting was installed in the kitchen and Shifa’s most frequently used dishes and mugs were taken off high shelves and placed at counter level.

• Start using equipment to make things easier and safer. For example, grab bars were installed in the bathroom and the OT taught Shifa how to use them to get in and out of the tub with confidence.

• Identify and prioritize goals. Given that Shifa wants to keep her garden, the OT recommended using a light garden hose on a reel cart to water her plants instead of filling a heavy watering can. With her daughter’s help, Shifa downsized her garden to make it more manageable. A neighbour’s teenager was hired to do some of the heavier cleaning every second week - Shifa enjoyed the company and the teenager enjoyed helping her neighbour while earning extra income.

• Assessed Shifa’s balance and walking. A change in footwear to something that was easier to get on and off, with a good tread and rubber soles, helped Shifa feel more stable when walking. Shifa also had a cane for the winter and, with the OTs suggestion, started using it in the summer too.

Because of occupational therapy, Shifa feels safe at home.

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) provides a searchable national directory of occupational therapists for all Canadians to find the occupational therapy services they need.

Occupational therapy. Making the everyday possible.