Citation

Early A, Walsh R, Douglas B. Work 2019; 63(2): 309-318.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, IOS Press)

DOI

10.3233/WOR-192924

PMID

31156204

Abstract

As the population of individuals age sixty-five and older continues to grow, the number of older individuals participating in the workforce rises alongside, with projections estimating as many as 72 million older workers by 2030. Due to this rapid increase in the number of older workers, new challenges to worker health and to health-related productivity will arise in the coming years. Occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely suited to address many of these challenges given their background in activity analysis, assessment and modification of job demands, and role in health promotion and successful aging. However, there is need for continued research in this area to expand the role of the occupational therapy practitioner in prevention and return-to-work interventions focused on the older worker, and to advocate for the value occupational therapy practitioners can contribute to this field.

Language: en

Keywords

Work; gerontology; participation; prevention