Veterans experiencing homelessness secondary to behavioral health or mental health conditions require proper care to address the barriers to successful participation in occupations. Occupational therapists hold the skilled-services to address the behavioral and mental health needs of Veterans. Therefore, the purpose of the DCE was to develop a program that assists Veterans experiencing homelessness by improving independence in daily, meaningful
occupations to sustain community living and, through the process, advocate for occupational therapy services at the Domiciliary. Through developing a weekly positive outlook intervention group based on the requests of the Veterans, the group reported increased satisfaction with physical health, mood, family relationships, leisure time activities, and sexual interests. Through advocacy in the community, local businesses indicated improved perceptions of addressing mental health in the workplace. Finally, advocating for an occupational therapy position at the Domiciliary showed improved interdisciplinary care. In conclusion, program development for group intervention, advocacy for Veterans in the community, and advocacy for an occupational therapy position resulted in providing services that enhanced the Veterans' overall daily functioning of meaningful occupations.

Creator

• Ferguson, Lexi

Contributors

• Bednarski, Julie

Publisher

• University of Indianapolis

Language

• en

Identifier

• Ferguson.L.OTD.2019.pdf

Keyword

• Occupational Therapy

Date created

• 5/3/2019

Resource type

• Dissertation

Source

• S19

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/