Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

This study reports on an occupational therapy intervention for an elderly man with a Distal Femoral Bruise (DFB) and Humeral Shaft Fracture (HSF), showing reduction of nursing burden by providing an assistive technology. The patient was a 70-year-old man who lived with his wife. He previously performed self-care activities independently by using a wheelchair. He went to a hospital because of walking problems, being diagnosed a right DFB in April 2018. He additionally had a right HSF due to an accidental fall during toileting with a help in May within a hospital. A typical surgical treatment was difficult because of his health status and financial burden. His cognitive issues at a high-level didn’t let his Occupational therapist (OTR/L) administer any standardized examinations. His left arm showed limitations of mobility, finger contracture, and edema. His goals were establishing functional brace after fixation with hanging cast, and improving ROM after confirming callus formation. During interventions, his cognitive issues were deteriorated at the four-week post-injury, resulted in requiring infusion managements. The priority was changed to eating with a second-hand Portable Spring Balancer (PSB), his OTR/L obtained, helping an upper extremity movement with spring power, rather than improving bodily functions. Obtaining ability for eating improved his motivation for living and cognitive status, resulting decreasing nursing burdens, letting him transfer to a nursing home, meeting his satisfaction. The second-hand PSB eased his financial burden and improved his health status, suggesting the effectiveness of the PSB.