Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are the basic self-care tasks that people need to do every day to take care of their bodies and live independently.

They include:

• Bathing – washing and grooming yourself

• Dressing – choosing and putting on clothes

• Eating – feeding yourself

• Toileting – using the bathroom and managing personal hygiene

• Transferring/Mobility – moving from bed to chair, standing, walking

• Continence – controlling bladder and bowel function

Occupational therapy in a dementia care is utilized to support meaningful participation, maintain function, and enhance quality of life as cognitive abilities change.

Key ways occupational therapy is used include:

• Maintaining independence in daily activities for as long as possible

• Adapting tasks and environments to reduce confusion and frustration

• Supporting cognitive function through structured routines and meaningful activities

• Managing behavioral and psychological symptoms by addressing unmet needs and environmental triggers

• Promoting safety through environmental modifications and risk reduction

• Educating and supporting caregivers with strategies to improve communication and care routines

• Preserving identity and dignity by focusing on person-centered, strengths-based interventions

Overall, occupational therapy helps individuals with dementia continue to engage in daily life in ways that are safe, familiar, and meaningful, while also supporting those who care for them.

Fall prevention is the set of actions and strategies used to reduce the likelihood of a person falling and to minimize injuries if a fall occurs.

It addresses:

• Home safety

• Regular exercise to build strength and balance

• Medication Review

• Use of assistive devices (i.e., cane, walker, etc.)

• Educating on safe movement.

Here’s a simpler, clearer version:

Fall risk evaluation is the process of checking for things that could cause a person to fall. It looks at physical, medical, and environmental factors—such as poor balance, weak muscles, vision problems, unsafe shoes, medications, or hazards in the home—so steps can be taken to prevent falls.

The intention of home modification in occupational therapy is to enable people to safely and independently engage in everyday activities within their own living environment.

More specifically, home modification aims to:

• Reduce barriers in the home that limit function or participation

• Increase safety and prevent injury (especially falls)

• Support independence in self-care, mobility, and household tasks

• Adapt the environment to match a person’s physical, cognitive, or sensory abilities

• Promote aging in place and improve overall quality of life

• Support caregivers by making tasks safer and more manageable

In occupational therapy, the focus isn’t on changing the person—it’s on changing the environment so the person can successfully do what matters to them in daily life.