Senior centers are an important community resource or older adults. Recognized as a designated ocal point by the Older Americans Act, 1 senior centers help older adults to access programs and services that promote health and independence. Today, senior centers serve a multitude o purposes, including meal and nutrition sites, screening clinics, recreational and ftness centers, social service agency branch ofces, mental health counseling clinics, older worker employment agencies, volunteer coordinating centers, and community meeting acilities. With each generation, senior centers continue to grow and evolve in order to help older adults age in place and age successully. Occupational Therapy in Senior Centers Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants bring an understanding o the importance o participation and occupation or overall well-being to senior centers. Occupational therapy practitioners can fll a unique role by enhancing client-centered programming in senior center communities. Occupational therapy practitioners can: • Evaluate members’ needs and interests or specifc health education programs, and then design programs around these needs. • Help member s compensate or challen ges they experience in activities o daily living (e.g., dressing and eeding), instrumental activities o daily living (e.g., driving and home management), leisure participation, social participation, and productive activity (e.g., volunteering and employment). The occupational therapy intervention plan, developed in collaboration with the member, considers the member’s specifc conditions (e.g., chronic pain, arthritis), and develops strategies to help maintain or improve his or her saety and well-being. • Develop educat ional progr ams to provide cent er participants who have a va riety o conditions (e.g., vision and hearing impairments, mobility limitations) with all prevention, energy conservation, and other compensatory techniques. Inormation can be delivered to individuals or groups about community mobility, environmental modifcations (e.g., bathtub bench, grab bars), and assistive devices (e.g., one-handed cutting board or meal preparation, built-up eating utensils) to increase ease, saety, and independence with daily tasks. • Assist part icipants with lie transit ions. Occupat ional ther apy programming designed to help address role transitions and changes in routines associated with retirement , widowhood, caregiver role, and relocation can alleviate some o the anxiety associated with these changes. Opportunities or participants to recognize the commonalities in their experiences and to gain problem-solving abilities to handle these transitions are just some o the ways that occupational therapy practitione rs might support individuals at senior centers during these times. • Create a nd implement health pro motion prog rams to assist parti cipants who wish to “redesign” their lives in order to experience greater health-related quality o lie and well-being. 2 Programs can address the benefts o health- promoting behaviors, and potential barriers or ears that are preventing individuals rom participating in valued lie activities. Occupational therapy practitioners provide a unique educational approach that allows participants to analyze their own occupations, which then enables them to adapt their approach to everyday living or optimal well-being. Occupational Therapy’s Role in Senior Centers www.aota.org 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814-3425 Phone: 301-652-2682 T DD: 800-377-8555 Fax: 301-652-7711 Fact Sheet