Strategies for the Development of Community-Based Occupational Therapy for Older Adults
A Case Study
Keywords:
ageing in place, occupational therapy, communityAbstract
Although most older people want to remain in their home environment for as long as possible, there is a shortage of community care services that would enable that in Slovenia. We wanted to examine the situation surrounding community-based occupational therapy in Slovenia and find strategies that could improve the recognition and availability of occupational therapy for community-dwelling older adults. We employed a qualitative research design – a case study. Four occupational therapists participated in the study, two from Slovenia and two from abroad. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and organized into four categories: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Based on the findings, the SWOT analysis was used as a strategic tool for the development of actionable strategies. The strategies that emerged from the analysis highlighted the need for additional training in the areas of fall prevention, home adaptations and dementia care, as well as the need for promotional and research work. Occupational therapy is a health discipline that could significantly contribute to successful and safe ageing in place.
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