In this episode of Is This Dementia?, hosts Darsh Ayton and Sarah Carmody are joined by Christina Wyatt, a seasoned occupational therapist and Professional Practice Advisor at Occupational Therapy Australia. With over two decades of experience across aged care, rehabilitation, and disability services, Christina offers a look into the vital—yet often underestimated—role of occupational therapy in supporting older adults, including those living with dementia. She explains how OTs help individuals maintain independence, identity, and quality of life through personalised, holistic interventions that address physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Christina also highlights the importance of early detection of cognitive decline, the power of functional assessments, and the collaborative nature of OT within multidisciplinary teams. The conversation explores how OTs contribute not only at the individual level but also at the systems level—advocating for better care models, influencing policy, and improving outcomes in both community and residential aged care. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in how occupational therapy can transform dementia care and aged care more broadly.

Christina has shared some links to helpful resources below:

OT and dementia https://ota-directus-prod-fedmhjdvaceqf3g7.australiasoutheast-01.azurewebsites.net/assets/86fd7324-ec79-4215-8637-7ebb06a498a7.pdf

OT in residential aged care https://ota-directus-prod-fedmhjdvaceqf3g7.australiasoutheast-01.azurewebsites.net/assets/4ce6d5e1-904f-4dec-9889-4a8d16c6547c.pdf

OT and behaviour support plans https://ota-directus-prod-fedmhjdvaceqf3g7.australiasoutheast-01.azurewebsites.net/assets/3176a6a9-5ce6-41c4-b296-2acabf666a28.pdf

OT and mealtimes https://ota-directus-prod-fedmhjdvaceqf3g7.australiasoutheast-01.azurewebsites.net/assets/79a02980-5f10-48c7-a475-891cc98be58a.pdf

OT and community aged care https://ota-directus-prod-fedmhjdvaceqf3g7.australiasoutheast-01.azurewebsites.net/assets/86fd7324-ec79-4215-8637-7ebb06a498a7.pdf

OT and falls prevention https://ota-directus-prod-fedmhjdvaceqf3g7.australiasoutheast-01.azurewebsites.net/assets/585e185f-824e-46a2-b41b-4a11fe2c7a8a.pdf

OT and driving https://ota-directus-prod-fedmhjdvaceqf3g7.australiasoutheast-01.azurewebsites.net/assets/0dde41be-6298-4db6-9ea7-28904211a29a.pdf

https://www.dementia.org.au/get-support/home-dementia