An occupational therapy programme in a religious community in South Africa: a historical narrative

The purpose of this paper was to describe an occupational therapy programme that addressed the needs of younger nuns as they faced the difficulties of caring for older nuns in a Dominican old-age home in South Africa. Weekly occupational therapy group sessions with the younger sisters over a 1-year period enabled them to cope with an elderly population who were struggling to adapt to life in an old-age home. Activity groups and individual sessions were run concurrently with the older sisters. Aspects addressed included: dealing with loss, exploring meaningful activity, communication, healthy lifestyles, community involvement and life review. No formal outcome measures were used. Informal evidence of the effectiveness of the programme is the occupationally healthy community observed 20 years later. The younger enablers are now the care receivers and play an integral part in sustaining the programme. Although the Dominican community has specific needs and practices, there is a parallel to other groups of older adults adjusting to a care setting. This programme can serve as a model to facilitate the quality of life of caregivers and residents. The programme outcomes support the principles of occupational science by demonstrating the importance of engaging in meaningful activities to maintain health and well-being.