Activities of Daily Living Ev... Health Article

Health care team roles

Occupational therapists and physical therapists are the two primary disciplines most qualified to assess ADL function and recommend the appropriate intervention and modifications in one's home and work environment. Physical therapists might focus primarily on a patient's mobility and ambulation, while the occupational therapist might focus on more specific tasks described above.

KEY TERMS

Adaptation—Altering a tool used in performing a task so that the patient is better able to function independently or with minimal assistance.

Dressing stick—A long rod with a hook attached to the end that a patient uses in place of the hands. Typically a dressing rod would be used to pull on a pair of pants or socks.

Home modification—Altering the physical environment of the home so as to remove hazards and provide an environment that is more functional for the patient. Examples of home modification include installing grab bars and no-slip foot mats in the bathroom to prevent falls.

BOOKS

Eisenberg, Myron G. Dictionary of Rehabilitation. New York: Springer Publishing Company, Inc., 1995.

Neistadt, Maureen E. and Elizabeth Blesedell Crepeau. Williard & Spackman's Occupational Therapy. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 1998.

Reed, Kathlyn L. and Sharon Nelson Sanderson. Concepts of Occupational Therapy Practice Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999.

Trombly, Catherine A., ed. Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1995.

ORGANIZATIONS

The American Occupational Therapy Association. 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. (301) 652-2682. <http://www.aota.org>.

The American Physical Therapy Association. 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488. (703) 684-2782. <http://www.apta.org>.

Meghan M. Gourley