National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapist Registered OTR®
DOMAIN, TASK, AND SKILL STATEMENTS
For the OTR® Certificant
Older Adult Practice Area

Throughout this document the use of the term client is intended to include individuals and groups such as patients, consumers, workers, students, children, and others who receive occupational therapy services.

Statement of Target Audience
This tool is designed for the OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST REGISTERED OTR® who provides services - or plans to provide services - to older adult populations. This population includes the well elderly and older adults with conditions impacting – or at risk of impacting – engagement in meaningful occupations. The OTR uses collaborative, client-centered strategies to obtain information regarding personal and environmental factors that support or hinder occupational performance and interprets this information to develop an intervention plan. Based on information gathered during the evaluation and from theoretical principles, occupation-centered interventions are selected and implemented to support participation in basic and instrumental activities of daily living. When developing client-centered interventions for the older adult, the OTR takes into account the normal aging process, client factors, performance skills, performance patterns, context and environment and activity demands that have or will have an impact on performance. Additionally, the OTR plays an important role in advocating for the needs of older adults at a systems and policy development level. The OTR engages in professional development activities to maintain competence and uphold standards of practice.