Occupational therapy practitioners improve quality of life in hospice and palliative care by helping people engage in those meaningful occupations, even if it is at their end of life. Karmella Bognot MS, OTR/L shares her experience working with people in a hospice and palliative care setting and how our role as OT practitioners is just as important in this stage of life, as it is when they are younger.
Resources:
The Role of Occupational Therapy in Palliative and Hospice Care fact sheet
Talking About the Unspoken: Death & Dying (course from Occupationaltherapy.com).
The Care for the Dying: A critical historical analysis of occupational therapy in hospice: Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
Follow Karmella on Instagram for all things Hospice: @humansofhospice
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Comments 15
How Can therapy be billed for theses patients . In Colorado don’t know if OT is part of a new home hospice Pt.
Author
That is a great question. Karmella talks about this in the episode. I am not sure if it is state specific. Does anyone has input on this?
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Would love nothing more than to chat away about it.
I will have more time this weekend to reply.
Yes private pay, but possibly pay per referral from hospice.
More later.
Is this an area that COTA’S could facilitate as well?
Author
I would think so, Thaydene! It falls under a medicare benefit, so I am assuming you would have to have a supervising OTR just like any other setting.
Thank you for inviting me to listen to this podcast. It came at a time at a pivotal time, as a person I have been working with for 23 years (DD population) was sent home yesterday with Hospice. When a client receives Hospice, we no longer can work with that individual. I believe that the Hospice in our area does not employ OT on staff. But I can see the value in it. Keep advocating for OT in Hospice.
Thank you
Kris Redmon COTA/L
Author
So sorry to hear about your client transitioning to hospice. Those clients that you work with for such a long time are definitely the hardest. I also believe that OT is a key component to a persons quality of life in this setting. Hugs to you and your client xxxx
I love that you created this site. Our profession need this very much
I love what your doing!!
Author
Thanks so much Kimberly! I love being able to support other OT practitioners and students – it is the best! 🙂
This is amazing.
I am choosing to add end of life doula to my credentials. Will be completed by October.
This is a amazing space for Occupational Therapy.
My end goal is to be an end of life consultant.
Author
oh my gosh, Raphaele! So cool – I’d love to hear more about this. Is it a separate service than hospice? Private pay? What does it entail? I have so many questions!!! 🙂
Mandy-just sent you an email. 😄 I look forward to connecting and chatting more.