At Felician University, we are preparing students to work in careers that address the needs of older adults. Our Occupational Therapy Assistant Program was developed to achieve this goal and admitted its first class of students in 2021.

Occupational Therapy has been considered a profession in the United States since 1917. The focus of this profession is to achieve optimal functioning for older adults and the disabled while addressing their needs in a holistic manner. As professionals, we are versatile in our practice settings. Our practices take us into healthcare settings or homes based on the needs of our patients. As an Occupational Therapist, or Occupational Therapy Assistant (OT/OTA), the focus when working with seniors is towards productive aging.

Older adults bring to the table decades of experience in activities and roles. As therapists, we look at those occupational roles that are meaningful to the person we are caring for. Those roles include being a self-manager, home manager, volunteer, older worker, and life-long learner. We also consider the impact of the environment, culture, and social connections on these self-fulfilling activities. With advances in healthcare, people are living longer than ever before. As we age, our physical, cognitive, and mental abilities naturally decline. OT/OTAs analyze the older adult’s abilities and determine areas of deficit that are preventing them from completing a given task or role. Working together, the therapist and patient will determine how the task is performed and modify the movement or the environment so that the activity can now be completed safely. As a holistic health care professional, an OT/OTA will also work with senior patients to find community resources to cover any unmet needs to ensure there is quality to the person’s life. Felician University is proud to prepare our students to assume this important role.

By:

Kelly T Garcia
Felician University
OTA Program Director