Participation matters: how to navigate transitions and find meaning

• Main Author: Fresvik, Janelle Elizabeth
• Other Authors: McKinnon, Sarah
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Occupational therapy
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/41409

Older adults experience multiple transitions as they age. These transitions may be predictable events such as retirement or unpredictable events such as the loss of a spouse or a new medical diagnosis. Age-related changes and transitions can result in functional decline, social isolation and loneliness, and decreased quality of life. The ability of older adults to adapt during transitions can have a significant impact on their overall health and well-being. Most of the current interventions for older adults in times of transition focus on the transitions between hospital and home. Other important life transitions are not being addressed effectively and there is a gap in effective interventions to support the health and well-being of older adults. Health management is an important occupation for older adults. The successful management of one’s own health can support physical, emotional, and spiritual engagement and optimal participation and quality of life. The program, Participation Matters, is specifically designed for older adults and was designed based on the current evidence-based literature to support healthy aging. The program offers an opportunity for older adults to increase their knowledge and skills in responding to the normal changes and transitions that occur during the aging process. Successful completion of the program will equip older adults with tools to respond to transitions caused by a variety of life events.