Occupational Therapy in Palliative Care: Incorporating Meaningful Occupations and Education Programs for Occupational Therapists

Based on the literature reviewed for this critically appraised topic (CAT), end-of-life care has become a more popular setting, and healthcare workers are beginning to see the need for occupational therapists. Due to the undefined role of an OT in this setting, it is difficult for the client to be provided with the best care that increases their quality of life near death, as well as inadequate training for how to address intervention. The issue found within palliative care is that clients are not provided the opportunity to engage in the meaningful activities that bring them joy. The purpose of this critically appraised topic was to answer the question: How can we improve quality of life for adults 21 years of age or older in the palliative care setting by identifying the role of the occupational therapist, implementing specialized education for the OT in this setting, and engaging clients in meaningful occupations