Global and Sociocultural Competence

Article Review – Occupational Therapy and Complimentary Health
Approaches and Integrative Health
In reference to the Research Section, elaborate on one area that you feel is significant in its support of CHAIH being used by OTs: The article refers to the use of aromatherapy and music for alleviating agitation amongst people with Alzheimer’s disease (Bradshaw, 2017, p. 4). This application of CHAIH is important as dementia is a common condition among older people, and incorporation of alternative approaches which compliment conventional treatment benefits the health of patients and allows institutions to be more resourceful and innovative when devising care plans.
Do you use CHAIH in your current practice as occupational therapy? I use CHAIH on a daily basis in my role at a nursing home. The residents at the home face challenges conducting ADLs and IADLs due to various physical and mental health concerns. CHAIH helps these individuals to maintain and improve the independence with which they carry out every day activities.
What type of CHAIH do you do? Why do you choose to use it? And how do you bill for it? Much of the CHAIH which I use focuses on increasing engagement in occupations in a household environment. More specifically, I work through exercises with residents which are designed to improve their confidence and capability in grooming, dressing, and bathing. As the article states, involvement in these daily occupations yields meaning and satisfaction to the individuals (Bradshaw, 2017, p.

2).
The choice of CHAIH depends upon a number of ‘client factors’ (Bradshaw, 2017, p. 2), including the physical and mental health of the patient, the nature of any other therapy or medicine they are receiving, and the resources available at the nursing home. The goals and objectives of the patient are also taken into account. In this way, a care plan can be designed which is tailored to the patient’s needs and interests, whilst being deliverable by myself and other OTs.
The way in which we bill for treatment varies with each case. The level of insurance held by the individual benefiting from the CHAIH is a consideration, as is the duration of their treatment, with sessions typically lasting either 30 minutes or 1 hour.

References
Bradshaw, M. (2017). Occupational Therapy and Complementary Health Approaches and Integrative Health. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(2), 1-6.