Laurel Rico

Gerontology Occupational Therapist

Ms. Laurel Rico is a Gerontology Occupational Therapist in Scottsboro, AL with special training and skill in increasing the quality of life and independence of patients with disabilities, trauma, or sicknesses that restrict their ability to perform simple and complex everyday activities. As a Gerontology Occupational Therapist, Laurel Rico performs ability assessments, fall prevention environmental modifications, safe movement strategies, longevity education, and emotional support. Gerontology Occupational Therapy is used to help the elderly stay as functional and independent as possible. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Gerontology Occupational Therapists include arthritis, hearing loss, vision loss, balance loss, post-stroke paralysis, ALS, dementia, and Alzheimer's. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Gerontology Occupational Therapists include identifying patientu2019s weaknesses, strengths, and risk factors; assessing cognitive function which affects the ability to learn new, safer ways of doing daily tasks; and crafting environment modification and physical therapy protocols.

Occupational therapists work with older adults in virtually every setting: assisted living, wellness programs, hospitals, nursing homes, senior centers, clinics and in the home. Occupational therapists bring an understanding of the importance of participation and occupation for overall well-being to those who are experiencing disabling conditions related to aging. The primary overarching goal of occupational therapy services with this population is to maximize independence and participation, thereby enabling an older person to continue to live successfully in his or her chosen environment. Occupational therapists can help older adults by developing strategies to help or maintain safety and well-being, to assist with life transitions, and to compensate for challenges they experience in activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure participation, social participation, and productive activities.

Gerontology Occupational Therapists in Scottsboro, AL

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Feeding, Eating & Swallowing Occupational Therapist

Ms. Laurel Rico is a Feeding, Eating & Swallowing Occupational Therapist in Scottsboro, AL with special training and skill in holistically evaluating and resolving eating and swallowing dysfunctions by addressing environmental, cultural, physiological, and psychosocial interventions. As a Feeding, Eating & Swallowing Occupational Therapist, Laurel Rico performs holistic care in neonatal intensive care units, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing facilities, and hospices. Feeding, Eating & Swallowing Occupational Therapy is comprehensive management of feeding, eating, and swallowing challenges. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Feeding, Eating & Swallowing Occupational Therapists include difficulty raising food to the mouth, aspiration, dementia, and psychologically based eating disorders. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Feeding, Eating & Swallowing Occupational Therapists include videofluoroscopy, ultrasonography, electromyography, swallowing technique education, behavior modification program, environmental modification, providing adaptive equipment, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation.

Occupational therapists provide interventions to clients of all ages with feeding, eating and swallowing difficulties. Occupational therapists provide comprehensive rehabilitative, habilitative, and palliative dysphagia care, which includes collaborating with clients to provide individualized compensatory swallowing strategies, modified diet textures, adapted mealtime environments, enhanced feeding skills, preparatory exercises and positioning to clients, reinforcement of mealtime strategies to enhance and improve swallowing skills, and training to caregivers to enhance eating and feeding performance. Occupational therapists provide screening and in-depth clinical assessment which may include instrumental dysphagia assessments including videofluroscopy.

Feeding Eating Swallowing Occupational Therapists in Scottsboro, AL

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