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An Exploratory Study of How Occupational Therapists Develop Therapeutic Relationships With Family Caregivers
Journal article   Peer reviewed

An Exploratory Study of How Occupational Therapists Develop Therapeutic Relationships With Family Caregivers

Catherine A. Clark, Mary Corcoran and Laura N. Gitlin
The American journal of occupational therapy, v 49(7), pp 587-594
01 Jul 1995
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.49.7.587
PMID: 7573329
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

Abstract Family members, who provide 70% to 80% of all long-term care, have often been perceived by occupational therapists as a barrier to, rather than a partner in, effective care for elderly persons. This perception suggests that in order 10 build effective partnerships to manage complex issues, occupational therapists working with elderly persons must develop effective strategies for involving family members in the therapeutic process. This article describes a pilot study that examined how occupational therapists engage family caregivers of elderly persons receiving home care services. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to explore the behaviors demonstrated by two occupational therapists when working with family caregivers. The findings point to four primary types occupational therapist–caregiver interaction, categorized as: caring, partnering, informing, and directing. These interaction styles were compared with current literature describing state-of-the-art occupational therapy practices with older adults and family caregivers. An emphasis was placed on examining how therapeutic interactions can evoke different caregiver responses and influence the development and maintenance of collaborative therapeutic relationships. The results of this pilot study can sever as a framework for further exploration of interactive strategies that promote caregiver empowerment and ultimately influence the ability of families to assume responsibility for the long-term care required by many chronically disabled older adults.

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18 citations in Web of Science
37 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Web of Science research areas
Rehabilitation
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