Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Virtual Visitation: Promoting Social Occupations In Dementia Care, Carly Spina, Lizann Jovanovich, Ashley Jones, Pamela Baraceros, Rena Ribeiro

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Approximately two thirds of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) residents in the United States have some form of cognitive impairment such as dementia (Gaugler, et.al, 2014). Care practices in SNFs highlighting safety and therapeutic exercises may further isolate and decrease social opportunities, which can contribute to sensory deprivation in this population and result in lower quality of life (Haigh & Mytton, 2015; Nakamae et al., 2014). COVID-19 visitation restrictions, as well as ongoing barriers of geographical distance, present additional challenges when seeking to engage PLwD residing in SNFs in meaningful social occupations.

Reminiscence has potential to remediate effects of isolation and …

A Virtual View Of Occupation: Transactionalism In Mmorpgs, John Miklos, Alex Nold, Shasta Rice, Amanda Flores

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

To date, most research on massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) has focused on the effects playing MMORPGs has on players’ health and wellness. The virtual environment of MMORPGs has yet to be explored as a space where meaningful occupations occur. This qualitative study explored the virtual environment using a transactional perspective in order to define the qualities of virtual worlds, how transactional relationships operate more clearly within these virtual worlds to construct occupational meaning, and subsequently to provide a foundation of qualitative data to support future research including virtual worlds. The sample included six MMORPG players with experience playing …

Adults With Sensory Defensiveness And Their Use Of Coping Strategies, Cassidy Mccurdy, Sonia Patiño, Julia Mcmahon, Sophia Hagen

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot a questionnaire examining the relationship between sensory defensiveness and coping strategies, as well as establish typical ratings for sensory defensiveness among the adult population. Methods: Through snowball sampling, 91 participants completed the Sensory Response Questionnaire containing 69 questions. Participants’ responses to questions concerning sensations and coping strategies in various situations indicated levels of sensory defensiveness. Levels of sensory defensiveness were determined by mean ratings: < 2 low sensory defensiveness (Low SD), 2-2.5 some sensory defensiveness (Some SD), > 2.5 moderate sensory defensiveness (Moderate SD). Discussion: Kinnealy et al. (1995), estimates that 15% of the population has some level of sensory defensiveness that impacts …

Batok: The Exploration Of Indigenous Filipino Tattooing As A Collective Occupation, Ana Cabalquinto, Carmela Dizon, Chelsea Ramirez, Mai Santiago

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Batok (also known as Fatek/Burik/Tatak/Batek/Patik) is an indigenous Filipino tattooing practice where the practitioner marks the skin by hand-tapping the ink using bone/wood implements. Previous research on tattooing has explored an occupational science perspective on Western tattooing and its engagement and implication on the individual - recognizing its practice to be considered as an occupation (Kay & Brewis, 2017). Framed in theories of Collective Occupation (Ramugondo & Kronenberg, 2015), Doing, Being, Becoming (Wilcock, 2002), and Belonging (Hitch et al., 2014) the research explores how batok as a collective occupation affects the experiences of Filipino communities. Three individual Filipino people with …

Exploration Of Occupational Barriers Of At-Promise Youth With Photovoice, Francis Bie, Brianna Baisch, Quyntz Ellenwood, Kerry Krohn, Iliana Santellan

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Numerous circumstances affect the quality of life of youth including a higher risk for poverty, social exclusion, discrimination, mental health challenges and/or stigma, which effects their ability to engage in occupations (Iwasaki, 2014, p. 317). Through highlighting how photovoice has been utilized in the past with under-represented groups, we wanted to address occupational injustices faced daily by “At-promise” youth. Through utilizing participatory-led research, we wanted to further empower youth to be advocates in their community. Our research aim was to utilize Participatory Action Research and photovoice as a guide for at-promise youth to explore occupational injustices, how to understand the …

Holistic Occupational Therapy Dining Interventions Supporting Individuals With Dementia In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Kathleen Osio, Sabrina Anne Cezar, Ashley Lorton, Lisa Worsham

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) with a Holistic Occupational Therapy Dementia Dining Toolkit to enhance the dining experience in the SNF setting for individuals in all stages of dementia. Dementia is a prevalent condition seen in skilled nursing facilities (SNF) that is expected to continue to rise; in 2016, 47.8 percent of individuals living in a SNF had a diagnosis of dementia (Center of Disease Control, 2020). Dining experiences for individuals with dementia (IwD) are impacted by an individual’s cognition, physical, environmental, and psychosocial factors. Additionally, the task oriented and structured approach to …