Removing Environmental Barriers in the Homes of Older Adults With Disabilities Improves Occupational Performance
By Stark, Susan; Occupation, Participation and Health, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 32-40Publication Date: Winter 2004
Study examines the effectiveness of an occupational therapy home modification intervention program by evaluating differences in self-reported occupational performance before and after intervention in a population of community-dwelling older adults with disabilities. An occupational therapy intervention was provided in the homes of 16 older adults with functional limitations. The intervention included changing the existing space by the provision of adaptive equipment and making architectural modifications to the home. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used to measure satisfaction and performance in daily activities in the home before and after the modifications were completed. The COPM consists of a semi-structured interview and structured scoring method. Clients are asked to list occupational performance problems they encounter in self-care, work, and leisure. The problems are rated on a Likert (one-to-ten) scale based on their perceived importance. Overall, the mean scores on the COPM satisfaction and performance subscales indicated an improvement in performance and satisfaction with occupational performance.
Published by: Slack, Incorporated (Website:http://www.slackinc.com/default.asp)
American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) (Web Site: http://www.aota.org )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J47125
