AOTA Recognizes Poverty Awareness Month
North Bethesda, MD… January is Poverty Awareness Month. Because poverty and housing instability are critical issues of concern for occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs,) the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has been working on resources aligning the connection between the lived experience of people experiencing poverty and how health outcomes are impacted. When it comes to social determinants (or social drivers) of health, meaningful occupation and supportive environments can enhance health and wellbeing outcomes. Lack of resources and supports can lead to mental, emotional, and psychological challenges and toxic stress.
Varleisha D. (Gibbs) Lyons PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, FAOTA, Vice President of Diversity Equity Inclusion Justice Access & Belonging for AOTA said, “Poverty can be a form of trauma which greatly impacts life expectancy and overall wellbeing. OT services can assist in enhancing skills and resources needed to perform the things we want and need to do. Services may include interventions to address activities of daily living (ADLs), self-regulation and sensory processing, and health management just to name a few.”
The Role of Occupational Therapy for People Experiencing Homelessness
One of the primary dangers of poverty is homelessness. People experiencing homelessness have significant barriers to engaging in all daily life activities. These barriers are a combination of experiencing structural and environmental barriers and access to needed resources, along with individual barriers related to health conditions and functional limitations. Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) can address these barriers by providing services to individuals to learn skills or identify strategies to manage their self and health care needs while unhoused.
OTPs have a significant role in advocating and addressing the environmental and structural barriers that exist. This can include doing environmental evaluations and modifications to places where unhoused populations engage with services or resources, and advocating against policies that perpetuate the cycle of homelessness.
Caitlin Synovec, OTD, OTR/L, BCMH, AOTA member and Assistant Director of Medical Respite, National Institute for Medical Respite Care said, “With trust and rapport, the OTP can address needs of the individual or family. Research indicates that people experiencing homelessness identify a range of goals when engaged in occupational therapy services, from ADL to health management to Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and community/social engagement.”
What is Occupational Therapy?
Your life is made up of occupations—meaningful everyday activities. These occupations can include many roles, such as being a parent, a friend, a spouse, a tennis player, an artist, a cook, or a musician. We generally don’t think about our daily occupations until we have trouble doing them. Everyone has occupations—from the toddler whose occupations are play and learning to develop important skills, to the older adult whose occupations are engaging with family and friends and managing his or her home.
Occupational therapy evaluation and treatment supports engagement in everyday life activities that affect one’s physical and mental health and well-being. Throughout the year, AOTA works with partner organizations and stakeholders that address critical issues like poverty.
To interview one of AOTA’s experts, please contact Jennifer Rignani, media relations at praota@aota.org or at 412-977-5795.
About AOTA
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 213,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting professional and educational standards, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org.