Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Sclinda Janssen

Keywords

American Natives; Aged; Fragile Elderly; Culturally Competent Care; Aging in Place; PEOP Model

Abstract

Purpose: According to the National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA), at least one-fourth of Native American Elders experienced a fall at least once in the past year (Adamsen, 2018). Based on a consult review of the NRCNAA’s fall prevention program, the participants demonstrated limited follow through with the physical exercises because the recommendations were not culturally meaningful. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a safe mobility program for Elders.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using the PEOP model and the Native American medicine wheel to identify fall risk factors, outline current fall risk assessments tools, and examine current fall prevention interventions. The Home Occupations for Mainstay Elders (HOME) program was developed from literature findings.

Results: The HOME program was designed as an interdisciplinary course to be implemented by occupational therapists through occupation-based education sessions to promote safe mobility and aging in place. HOME provides a two-hour session per week for nine weeks with an additional three-month and six-month follow-up home visit.

Conclusion: The HOME program may help community-dwelling Native American Elders to improve safe mobility and promote aging in place. Future actions to bring the HOME program course to full fruition are to develop train the trainer materials, obtain grant funding, and implement a HOME course within an indigenous community with the recruitment of available personnel.

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