Beth Fields, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, is Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison;
Juleen Rodakowski, OTD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Am J Occup Ther. 2021 Sep 1;75(5). doi: 10.5014/ajot.2021.044735.
Unpaid caregivers are often expected to help family members or friends overcome activity limitations and participation restrictions to successfully age in place. Caregivers assume multiple responsibilities, such as managing their own physical and psychosocial needs and navigating a complex health care system, and many feel ill equipped to fulfill the necessary health care responsibilities for their care recipients. Underprepared caregivers may cause poor outcomes for care recipients. Federal and state policy proposals call attention to the need to better support caregivers, especially as their numbers increase. Occupational therapy practitioners are well positioned to effectively engage caregivers as they navigate the health care system. The occupational therapy process looks broadly at the functional abilities, environmental contexts, and occupational demands that play a pivotal role in successful aging in place for clients and better outcomes for their caregivers. Now is the time to define occupational therapy's distinct value to this area.
无偿照顾者通常需要帮助家庭成员或朋友克服活动限制和参与障碍，以成功地在原地养老。照顾者承担着多种责任，例如管理自己的身体和心理社会需求，以及应对复杂的医疗保健系统，许多人觉得自己没有能力履行照顾对象所需的医疗保健责任。准备不足的照顾者可能会导致照顾对象的不良后果。联邦和州的政策提案都呼吁要更好地支持照顾者，特别是随着照顾者人数的增加。职业治疗师在照顾者在医疗保健系统中导航时，可以有效地与他们合作。职业治疗过程广泛关注客户在原地成功养老以及照顾者获得更好结果的关键作用的功能能力、环境背景和职业需求。现在是定义职业治疗在这一领域的独特价值的时候了。
