Allie Calhoun, a character from the beloved movie, "The Notebook," winds up developing Alzheimers disease. Not only does she forget her loved ones (especially her grandkids), but she also experiences Sundowner's Syndrome where she changes to anger and frustration when the sun goes down. OT services will aim at helping create a schedule and routine for her to engage fully in activities which she loves, such as painting and playing the piano. Focusing on maintaining a schedule will hopefully reduce her confusion and panic. Also, the schedule will be sure to incorporate time where she can spend doing the activities she has always loved to do. OT should also focus on caregiver education as Allie's husband, Noah, is intimately involved in her care. Integrating family involvement and investing in their health is key in this situation in order to help Allie be involved in activities that bring meaning to her life.
The beautiful thing about occupational therapy as a profession is its adaptability. It thrives in an environment that is multi-dimensional where the profession morphs according to the client. "Client-centered" and "top-down approach" are all key terms when describing OT. Instead of being a rigid process with little adaptation, the profession molds into the best fit for each specific client. Occupational therapists are more than just practitioners. In a way, OTs are detectives, teachers, and companions. One theory that capitalizes on the adaptability of OT is Frame of Reference (FoR). FoR implements the strengths of OT by allowing the practitioner's roles to adapt to each individual client. Using the client's FoR aids the therapist to develop an intervention that best suites his specific needs. This is where solving mysteries and applying reasoning to the situation is useful. Deducing the client's motivations and context are key in the deve...
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