The OT Journal Club

Working in palliative care, we see patients who have come to the end of their life, and a large percentage of these patients have conditions such as heart disease, dementia or other conditions linked in the research above to inactivity. Part of our role is to work with people to maintain function, however to regain the same physical ability as pre diagnosis or symptom is unrealistic. This research highlights how important prevention is in healthcare. I feel like there is a role for OT and also physio's in working with members of the public in education and increasing levels of activity in addition to other lifestyle influences such as diet. There is some work in prevention in GP surgeries, however financial restraints are probably a large hindrance to providing a wider more inclusive approach. There are also free resources online, however this is dependant on motivation to access and also access to technology. It would be good if more resources were available to target particularly at risk groups to work on prevention rather than treatment.