Occupational therapy intervention with diabetic elderly: a literature revie

Increased life expectancy of the population leads to the growing number of the elderly who need health care, mainly due to complications caused by chronic diseases. Diabetes mellitus is a disease of high prevalence in the elderly, characterized by a metabolic disorder resulting from the lack of insulin and/or its inability to act appropriately. The disease promotes the appearance of macrovascular (cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vessels), microvascular (retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) and musculoskeletal (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) complications that affect the quality of life of seniors and their occupational performance (self-care, work and leisure). This study consists of a literature research that investigates the role of the occupational therapist following the elderly with diabetes mellitus, enclosing the two last decades, in order to identify possible interventions in the face of medical complications. It was noted the importance of the professional in the prevention of the disability and in the maintenance of the functionality during the various stages of the disease. The intervention stimulates the recovery of self-care autonomy, guides the individual in in the glycemic control, and in the face of complications, it contributes to the improvement of functional performance. The role of the therapist following the diabetic elderly enables the maintenance of a satisfactory performance of daily life activities such as eating, getting dressed, personal hygiene, mobility as well as improves the elderly's family and social relationships.