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Description
My doctoral capstone and Applied Leadership Experience (ALE) were completed at Telford Terrace, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Richmond, Kentucky. My capstone focused on education and program analysis, with the goal of increasing participation in meaningful instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) among older adults, particularly those with memory-related diagnoses. This was accomplished by educating staff on activity adaptations and environmental modifications while incorporating resident feedback into activity planning.
Following a needs assessment, literature review, and stakeholder interviews, I identified barriers to participation, including limited staffing, varying resident interests, and differences in physical and cognitive abilities. To address these barriers, I conducted resident interviews to identify preferred activity types, shared the findings with the Activities Director to guide programming, and tracked afternoon activity attendance from April through July to evaluate participation trends. I also developed an educational infographic highlighting adaptive equipment, activity modifications, and environmental adaptations and provided staff education to promote implementation of these strategies.
Throughout the experience, I demonstrated leadership through interdisciplinary collaboration, resident advocacy, initiative, accountability, and effective time management. By working closely with facility staff and promoting evidence-based occupational therapy interventions, I helped increase staff confidence in implementing individualized adaptations that support occupational engagement.
Overall, the project resulted in increased resident participation in facility-sponsored activities and improved staff understanding of strategies to support residents with complex physical and cognitive needs. This experience reinforced the essential role of occupational therapy in promoting independence, meaningful participation, and quality of life through client-centered, occupation-based interventions.
Graduation Date
2026
Keywords
Older adults, adaptations, modifications, participation, engagement
Disciplines
Occupational Therapy
Degree Type
Book
Site Mentor
Bethanee Rogers, Activities Director
Comments
Link to my presentation video: https://youtu.be/Vl-9XZpL0eE