My Road Block to Engaging Residents

While working at an assistant living community I have encountered two barriers that are preventing residents of the community from fully engaging and functioning. Many of the assisted living adults have lost the ability to walk and/or write. Some of the loss of ability is due to strokes that have been suffered in the past, but I also believe that a large portion of the loss of ability can also attributed to lack of use. Some residents wait for someone to hep them with things that they can safely accomplish on their own, because they recognize that if they take the initiative to complete the task it would take much more time and effort than if they were to ask a team member of the assisted living community to do it for them. Others simply pretend that they do not see the importance of OT and PT, and do not attempt to write or stand throughout the week. Most of the residents that I have met are over the age of 70, and I woud bet that their abilities to write, stand, and walk have deteriorated over time due to lack of use.

In my opinion, people stop trying to utilize the abilities they still possess, and cease trying to regain the abilities that they've lost because they feel unconfident. Lack of confidence, low self-esteem, embarrassment, and self-pity spawn from similar feelings. I've tried to encourage the residents that I interact with everyday to begin taking steps toward maintining or regaining their walking and writing abilities. Most of them shy away from engagements and activites that challenge them to attempt these tasks. I want the older adults that I work with to live meaningful, happy, and healthy lives. I want them at least maintain the abilities that they come to us with. And I desire for them to have the self-esteem to be engaged to the fullest of their ability. I've hit a road block. I don't know how to nudge toward seeking to improve their hand dexterity, writing, and ability to walk.