In the United States there are nearly 16 million caregivers caring for persons with dementia; nearly half have clinically significant symptoms of depression. This course will introduce means to identify and address caregiver well-being.

In this edition, we highlight Dr. Sharon Gutman's career and contributions to occupational therapy. Her work with homeless adults with mental illness has received national recognition. This course is part of a quarterly series on OccupationalTherapy.com designed as a salute to the OT pioneers with contributing editor Dr. Franklin Stein. It is presented in an engaging Q & A format and highlights the OT pioneer's journey into occupational therapy and research accomplishments.

This course will explore the use of the Kawa model, a culturally sensitive occupational therapy model of practice, in geriatric care to establish rapport, identify client strengths and barriers, and improve communication. Attendees will gain knowledge regarding the components of the Kawa model, how to apply the model to geriatric practice, as well as the current research on use of the model in long term care, home care/caregiving, and community-based settings.

This presentation defines infant mental health, reviews attachment, and explains how to promote attachment behaviors in the caregiver/infant dyad or family system.

Because there is no recipe, managing chronic/persistent pain in home health can be challenging and daunting. This course will dive into the realms of neuroscience and best practice for helping clinicians aid their patient’s to better self-manage their pain based on current available research.

The purpose of this course is to examine dance-based interventions to address the physical and cognitive symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease to improve outcomes and enhance well-being. Using different styles and modifications of dance moves and sequences, clinicians will be instructed on how to implement beginner dance-based interventions in seated and standing positions along with modifications with their clients diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

This course is a continuation of the course titled, "Yoga Therapeutics to Cultivate A Sustainable Core". We build on the evidence-based and anatomical foundation of the dynamic core and apply the clinical reasoning of progressing patients and athletes through therapeutic exercises.

Chronic pain triggers changes in brain structure that are linked to depression, anxiety, and impaired cognitive function. New research shows that practicing yoga has the opposite effect on the brain and can relieve chronic pain.

This course is designed to provide evidence-based information on the cognitive behavioral therapy treatment approach for eating disorders. Various occupational therapy treatment techniques and interventions will be highlighted.

A variety of groups and group intervention activities will be presented that may be used in mental health, skilled nursing, school-based and a variety of other practice areas. This presentation addresses groups specific to occupational therapy and provides a basic outline of how to facilitate a group.