Older adults’ experiences and expectations after discharge from home-based occupational therapy

Introduction: Home-based occupational therapy can improve older adults’ occupational performance, but maintaining improvements presents challenges, and service development is needed. In this study, older adults’ experiences and expectations concerning their occupational performance after discharge from home-based occupational therapy were examined and used to develop suggestions for improved practice. Method: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 older adults living alone or with a spouse. The interviews were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Findings: The older adults still strove to improve and maintain their occupational performance using various strategies; their desire for independence was strong, but some could accept a lesser degree of independence. Conclusion: From the findings and existing literature, ideas were developed to improve home-based occupational therapy and support maintenance of occupational performance after discharge. These ideas include: (a) finding strategies to achieve satisfactory occupational performance that does not necessarily entail full independence, (b) increased focus on the use and transfer of problem-solving strategies, (c) acknowledging and addressing possible reluctance to use assistive devices, and (d) individually scheduled follow-up visits post occupational therapy. Future research should examine the effectiveness and applicability of these ideas.