The Memory Unit OT

For many individuals, the transition to long-term residency in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility can be emotionally and mentally challenging. Much in the way moving to a new home or community can be challenging.

Occupational Therapy is an essential resource and tool to maximize a successful transition into long-term care.

It’s one of my favorite types of care plans to work on. These are the goals I typically set, and the strategies I use.

Honestly, these goals are pretty simple and I tend to re-use them a lot.

Resident will demonstrate awareness of current environment as evidenced by ability to independently locate all desired rooms on the unit 75-100% of the time.

Resident will attend at least 1 meal per day in community dining to maximize safe and successful transition to long-term care residency.

Resident will identify at least 2 personally meaningful leisure activities to engage in within this facility to maximize integration into long-term care residency for improved quality of life.

Resident will attend at least 2 personally meaningful leisure activities within this facility per week to maximize integration into long-term care residency for improved quality of life.

OT will collaborate with Resident and IDT (interdisciplinary team) to ensure safe setup of room on long-term care unit for maximized safety and quality of life following transition to long-term care residency.

My care plan will likely not be exclusive to these goals. I’ll be sure to add in goals for self care, transfers, and mobility as necessary. But I find these sorts of goals allow for lots of different intervention strategies to help an individual integrate into the community.

From here, the interventions are really fun!

I essentially live life like a Resident myself. Meaning, I invite my new Resident to go to activities that I will also participate in. I’ll go for a walk around the facility with my new Resident to learn where all the rooms and resources are. I’ll sit with my new Resident during breakfast or lunch. I’ll explore the Activities Calendar with my new Resident and pick a session to attend together. I’ll collaborate with my new Resident and their family to move furniture around, organize drawers and closets, and setup their personal items.

And all along the way I’m working on strategies to compensate, adapt, and improve in any areas we may need to.

This type of intervention planning and execution may be among the most stereotypically functional of tasks.

But honestly, it’s so fun and the outcome is always the best.

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