Adequate and restful sleep plays a major role in building a foundation that is necessary for the optimal occupational participation, engagement, and performance in day to day life. The prevention and the intervention strategies are meant to address the individuals, families and the sleep needs of the population. Sleep forms a major component of the occupational therapy’s scope. Sound sleep during the phase of occupational therapy is inevitable when considered from the holistic perspective to help the patients in living a life to their fullest.
Role of occupational therapy in sleep and wellness
The expert occupational therapists utilize the knowledge of the specialized field of study named sleep physiology which deals with various natures of sleep disorders and evidence that rightly addresses the ramifications of the various natures of sleep insufficiency. The sleep issues are addressed with all the clients and are framed from the appropriate perspective of the health maintenance and also for the purpose of health promotion. Occupational therapists address the dysfunctions related to sleep in the following ways;
ü Autism Spectrum Disorder affected Children
The occupational therapists work with the families of the autism affected children or the children who are born with other developmental disorders which impact the sleep of the families and the caregivers’ abilities for functioning effectively during the daytime. The occupational therapists aid the families to systematically trial changes in the bedtime routines, the patterns of their sleep and their sleeping habits. Expert occupational therapists use the behavioral or cognitive therapy interventions or the strategies that address the senses. They manage the physical environment and also facilitate the enhancing of the observation skills and the physical environment. The calming routines and activities do not burden the families and can be very consistently carried out for facilitating sound sleep.
ü Long-term care for the older adults
The practitioners who are engaged in working in the long-term care settings for the older adults develop individualized sleep routines, adjust the lighting to very clearly demarcate between night and day, help in reducing the staff noise and also to train the team of staffs to make use of the recommended equipment ideal for positioning of the bed, maintaining of the turning schedules for immobile patients and also to advocate all the clients’ privacy requirements. There are several activity programs during the daytime like exercising, fostering socialization and facilitating engagement which are very necessary for facilitating good sleep during the night. The occupational therapists ensure to address all the safety related to nocturnal toileting, bedding management and preferences of sleep clothing etc. The environmental elements like sufficient blankets for receiving optimal warmth, blackout curtains or the eye masks are usually suggested to the clients by the occupational therapists for enhancing the sleep’s quality.
The occupational therapists who work towards the prevention and management of the wellness to facilitate sound sleep usually incorporate physical activities in their daily routines and also address the mood disorders, substance abuse, dietary habits and cessation of smoking which are all directly linked with the sleep disturbances.
Assessment of sleep disorders
The occupational therapists evaluate the clients in various areas which are responsible for the sleep dysfunction and includes difficulties in sleeping soundly. They consider the following parameters in order to assess the sleep disorders:
ü Sleep latency- This is the average time that an individual requires to fall asleep. It is not more than 30 minutes for a normal person. If an individual has a sleep disorder, then the sleep latency is usually more.
ü Sleep duration- This is the number of hours that an individual sleeps. This duration varies with age.
ü Sleep maintenance- This is the duration of the sleep that an individual is able to retain.
Apart from the above major parameters, there are several other parameters depending on the patient’s condition is taken into consideration.
Intervention
The occupational therapists intervene in the right promotion of the optimal performance in sleep. These particular interventions include the following:
ü Imparting of proper and relevant education to the caregivers and clients on various prevailing sleep misconceptions & expectations.
ü Addressing the various secondary conditions which have the potential of precipitating diminished quality of sleep ( e.g. anxiety, depression or pain)
ü Encouraging more and more behaviors related to health management which includes cessation of smoking, reducing the intake of caffeine, promoting adequate exercising and eating a balanced diet.
ü Establishment of the predictable routines which majorly include regular times of sleeping and waking.
ü Managing the fatigue and stress conditions of the patient with a sleep disorder.
ü Addressing the barriers or performance deficits which are related to the day-to-day activities like toileting or bed mobility.
ü Establishment of the customized or individualized sleep hygiene routines.
ü Teaching tactics of time and stress management.
ü Teaching effective self-management and addressing of the sensory disorders.
ü Modification of the environment that majorly include the light, noise, temperature & technology which are being used during bedtime.
Occupational therapy is one of the ancient form of treatment, from the time when there was no modern medical science.
Occupational therapists are undoubtedly the crucial members of a team providing health care especially to the patients who are suffering from the sleep disorders. Occupational therapists often work with the sleep disorder affected individuals to bring in environmental or behavioral changes that promote the effective sleep routines and habits.
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