Advances in modern medicine have altered how patients experience chronic illness and end-of-life care, and the quality of life of both patients and their loved ones has frequently been questioned. Palliative care programs are specifically designed to help patients cope more effectively with serious conditions while prioritizing quality of life. This text describes occupational therapy’s distinct purpose in chronic condition management, palliative care, and hospice, and provides a guide for thoughtful, patient-centered service delivery.
Chapters include—
•
Chapter 1. Improving Outcomes: Health Care Reform and Occupational Therapy in Palliative Care and Hospice
•
Chapter 2. Demonstrating Occupational Therapy’s Distinct Value: Chronic Conditions and Terminal Illness
•
Chapter 3. Palliative Care and Occupational Therapy
•
Chapter 4. Hospice and Occupational Therapy
•
Chapter 5. Delivering Occupational Therapy Services in Palliative Care
•
Chapter 6. Delivering Occupational Therapy Services in Hospice Care
•
Chapter 7. Caregivers and Occupational Therapy: A Vital Partnership
Each chapter includes learning objectives, key terms and concepts, and detailed case examples that illustrate how occupational therapy practitioners can develop interventions that support patient autonomy, facilitate meaningful occupation, reduce caregiver burden, and increase quality of life at any stage of illness. As the number of people with chronic conditions grows, occupational therapy practitioners have an opportunity to empower patients to play an active role in the management of their health by supporting them in understanding all the options available to them—and ensuring their wishes are heard.