Introduction / Rationale:
Approaching palliative care from an occupational therapy (OT) perspective allows for a more comprehensive and effective targeting of needs for those diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). “Palliative” refers to a medical approach for an ailment that cannot be cured. Associated symptoms and stressors, however, can be addressed to enhance quality of life. Therefore, the aim of palliative care is consistent with foundational principles that inform interventions by OT practitioners. This knowledge can vastly improve the efficiency of care delivery and bolster meaningful outcomes identified by patients and their care providers.
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
Distinguish and describe the unique roles of OT through a palliative care framework.
Implement best practices within an interprofessional ALS clinic.
Methods / Approach:
This poster describes the role of OT within an interprofessional ALS clinic. OTs within the clinic assess patients’ functional capacity, neurocognitive function, support system, and overall ability to engage in self-identified meaningful occupations through a palliative care framework.
Results / Practice Implications:
With a palliative care framework, OT practitioners can increase patients’ participation in their evolving, self-identified occupations through general activity modifications, durable medical equipment recommendations, exploration of legacy building, completion of “unfinished business,” and education on symptom management.
Conclusion / Contribution to the occupational therapy profession:
OT practitioners have identified high frequency needs and patterns of predictability to clearly address in their practice with those diagnosed with ALS. By integrating a palliative care model at an interprofessional ALS clinic, we can empower patients through a compassionate approach to maximize patients’ expressed beliefs of what constitutes quality of life.