For many older people, support is often focused on providing care to them, rather than giving them an active role in that care. Reablement is about supporting older people to keep or get back the skills they need for everyday life.
Rather than doing everything for someone, reablement encourages individuals to do as much as they can for themselves, with the right support. This approach is important because it helps people keep their:
- independence
- dignity
- self-confidence.
At mealtimes, this can mean supporting someone to:
- regain the ability to eat and drink independently
- keep using the skills they have to prepare their own meals
- maintain the social connections that happen around preparing and enjoying food.
Occupational therapists, dementia and mealtimes
Occupational therapists (OTs) play a key role in reablement for older people at mealtimes. This includes people living with dementia. OTs:
- assess a person’s skill level and independence with eating and drinking
- identify any barriers, such as reduced muscle strength for using a regular knife and fork
- suggest strategies that encourage independence, such as such as the need for adapted cutlery or different seating options to support stability
They can also train caregivers to provide help that encourages independence, not reduce it.
Reablement focuses on what people can do, rather than what they can’t. Dementia can affect memory and thinking. For someone living with dementia, a cluttered or very noisy environment at mealtimes might cause them to become overwhelmed, frustrated and tired. An OT might recommend strategies to support someone living with dementia to start eating their meal, this may involve a staff member giving them a gentle reminder to pick up their spoon or bring it to their mouth.
OTs are skilled in supporting people to be comfortable in their surroundings. This can mean making changes to the environment to suit the person. OTs can work with older people and their caregivers to suggest personalised changes to the environment. These can include changes to noise, lighting, decor and design. This can support the person to continue joining in with group or family mealtimes and improve their overall wellbeing and quality of life.
Occupational Therapy Week
This month we recognise Occupational Therapy Week, which runs from 27 October to 2 November. The theme this year is ‘Occupational Therapy in Action’, which highlights the many ways OTs show creativity, problem solving and compassion in their valuable work with older people.
Find out more
You can find more information or access an OT in your area, by contacting Occupational Therapy Australia.
