In my work, I meet all kinds of people. One of the most challenging ones are those well into their 90’s who have lived alone for decades. They tend to be the most fiercely independent and stubborn.
I have one client who is adamant about living in her 4000 sq. foot home with some 14 stairs to get to the main living area. The environment itself limits her safety. She has been willing to use a walker with one upstairs and one on the first floor.
This lady was determined to not change her ways and refused safety interventions at eval because she felt ok. For me as an OT, I listen to where they are at and what they feel because you can’t change a person if they are not willing. Sometines their own choices lead to unintended consequences that will encourage change.
Living alone is not easy when your balance is off and you have a walker. I assessed how she was preparing her meals. She said she did not have to worry because her family would bring food, however, her family could not and hired a caregiver several days a week. She refused to eat what the caregiver prepared because she wanted food from her family.
Well, the unintended consequences of refusing intervention hit her 2 weeks ago. No one came over the weekend and she just could not prepare herself dinner or lunch. She simply could not read the directions from the frozen meal not carry to the microwave so she gave up.
When I came on Monday, she was fatigued and complaining of hunger. We tried to do a meal prep task with making toast and tea and she struggled to problem solve how to manage it. I mentioned to her a walker basket may help and that week she refused. I tried to educate on how it worked but once again, she resisted change. I finished making her breakfast and we sat and chatted about the situation.
The next week I came and she was once again hungry and tired. I could tell she was not feeling well being in that situation and she reluctantly agreed to trial my $6 basket. She was very resistant but said ok. I said I will leave it and she can decided herself. I also worked with the caregiver to make small bento meals in her refrigerator that will be easy to heat and eat.
Today I arrived at her home with her just beaming a huge toothy smile as I came in. She stated, “I like this basket you make me. I so happy I can make my food this weekend.”
She was so excited to tell me how she found her food and warmed it up and brought it to her couch to sit and eat. She said she found it so useful and was amazed how it helped her. She even said to tell the other therapists at rehab about it.
One week I had a hungry and tired client and the next week I had a happy well-fed client being a bit more safe and independent. It is amazing what a $6 gadget can do for a senior’s quality of life.
Creative Caring Works 