Content area
Full Text
MeSH TERMS
* activities of daily living
* age factors
* occupational therapy
* outcome assessment (health care)
* vision, low
The impact of age-related vision loss on older adults' independence at home is profound. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to maintain, restore, and improve performance in daily activities at home for older adults with low vision. We searched and screened abstracts from multiple electronic databases and identified 17 studies that fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three themes in intervention approaches emerged: multicomponent intervention, single-component intervention, and multidisciplinary intervention. Strong evidence of effectiveness was found in studies that applied a multicomponent approach; these interventions involved teaching knowledge and skills that older adults with low vision need to help overcome the disablement process. Evidence also suggests that multiple sessions of training with low vision devices and special viewing skills to compensate for vision loss are necessary to have a positive effect on daily activities. Finally, multidisciplinary intervention that focused on personal goals yielded greater positive outcomes than interventions that were not personalized.
Liu, C.-J., Brost, M. A., Horton, V. E., Kenyon, S. B., & Mears, K. E. (2013). Occupational therapy interventions to improve performance of daily activities at home for older adults with low vision: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67, 279-287. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.005512
Activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are two essential occupations in the scope of occupational therapy practice. We conducted a systematic review to inform occupational therapy practitioners, educators, and researchers regarding results of recent, high-quality clinical trials that examined the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy to maintain, restore, and improve ADLs and IADLs at home for older adults with low vision. The review addressed the following focused question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy to maintain, restore, and improve performance in ADLs and IADLs at home for older adults with low vision?
Background and Statement of Problem
In 2011, the first wave of baby boomers reached age 65. This quickly growing older population will soon raise the demand for occupational therapy services to remain...