The interventions used by occupational therapist at the treatment of elderly with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

The Occupational Therapy function and its objective with the elderly attacked by PD, is to prevent and reduce functional losses and dependence frames. For it, this professional basically uses technological devices, environmental changes and facilitated techniques. A qualitative, investigative and descriptive research was developed in 2006 in order to know the procedures used by the Occupational Therapists with elderly attacked by PD. Through interviews with occupational therapists that work with gerontology; residents and active in the city of Sao Paulo, the research understood an application of a schedule of open questions. Seven occupational therapists have participated of the research. The interviewees relate that the elderly mainly face motor, cognitive and emotional difficulties and, guide themselves at their procedures according to the patients' desires and goals. These purposes take in minimize the symptoms, develop motor practice and skills, recover and increase remaining abilities, improve the performance in the daily activities, the independence and life quality. The developed procedures include motor coordination, techniques of relaxation and breath, compensated activities and the procedures development in order to the preserved capacities. To face the cognitive disturbs, the interviewee provide cognitive stimulation as far as simplification activities. To minimize the impact resulting from the disease increase is very important work with the careers and family. Summarize, the approach used by the interviewee focus to preserve the elderly independence, autonomy and significant life.