The significant role of occupations and what it means for people who have Parkinson's disease

Participation in occupations is an important component to health and is vital for all humans. Through the things we participate in everyday, we learn skills, socialize, gain satisfaction and most of all they add a sense of purpose and meaning to our lives. (Law, 2002).  But what happens when the things we once enjoyed and valued in our lives, gets taken away by something out of our control?

Occupational deprivation refers to conditions or situations that are out of a person’s control that inhibits the person participating in occupations. (Christiansen & Townsend, 2010). When we can’t participate in things that are important and meaningful to us, it is damaging to our health. The meaning we tie to our occupations, impacts our meaning to our lives which in turn affects our quality of life, our purpose and our self-worth (Hammell, 2004). Reduced participation in occupations has many adverse effects such as isolation, reduced or no active recreation, depression, that loss of purpose of meaning to life can be detrimental to your physical and mental wellbeing. (Law, 2002).  Loss of occupations can also bring about a change in life roles, it may be that roles are lost such as being the provider for the family and the new roles may needed to be learned or adapted. (Parkinson’s Society, British Columbia, 2013).

Having Parkinson’s disease affects the occupations they can carry out, depending on the stage the disease is and what degree their symptoms are at, it can heavily influences what occupations they can do. Parkinson’s can impact transfers making difficult to begin an occupation, driving and all activities of daily living due to stiffness and reduced trunk flexibility. (Aragon & King, 2010). Due to gait and balance problems difficulties such as taking that initial step for walking, fear of falling and balance, can affect the type of occupation they can carry out. (Aragon & King, 2010).  Fatigue can Affect a person’s endurance and even motivation to carry out occupations. Fatigue can lead to reduced participation in occupations that are meaningful and purposeful for a person. (Aragon & King, 2010).  A cognition change affects the type of occupations they can engage in, speech can even be lost, affecting communication and leading to isolation of social occupations and interactions. (Aragon & King, 2010).

Having Parkinson’s disease dramatically changes the occupations that can be carried out and participated in. This change in occupations that can be carried out, due to the disease causes loss, occupational deprivation, and change of life roles.

References:

Aragon, A., & King, J. (2010). Occupational therapy for people with Parkinson’s: Best practice guidelines. London: College of Occupational therapists.

Christiansen, C., & Townsend, E. (2010). Introduction to occupation: The art and science of living. (2ed). New Jersey, United States of America: Pearson Education Inc.

Hammell, K. W. (2004). Dimensions of meaning in the occupations of daily life. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(5), 296-305

Law, M. (2002). Participation in the occupations of everyday life, 2002 Distinguished Scholar Lecture. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56, 640–649.

Parkinson’s Society, British Columbia. (2013). Parkinson’s disease. Retrieved from http://www.parkinson.bc.ca/Living-with-Parkinsons