Community and Life Skills OT 460 A Fall 2012

Overview Definition of life skills Types of life skills people need Interventions to promote life skills

Definitions Those skills we need to manage our day to day existence Skills needed to maintain our basic needs of: shelter, food, health and sanitation Go beyond personal care Involve significant amount of cognition

Types of life skills Self care: grooming, clothing, and nutrition Health and safety: safety, first aid, and health care Community: public transportation, housing and community resources Money management: banking, budgeting, and shopping Time management: assessment, planning and goal setting Self management: impulse control, stress management, emotional control, effective communication

Interventions to promote life skills Money management Reading bills Check writing or money orders Coupon clipping Communication skills Telephone use Job interviewing Assertiveness Time management Timed tasks Cooking, craft projects, job tasks

Interventions to promote life skills Home management Cooking, cleaning, trip planning, shopping Self management: Emotional control Social skills training Personal hygiene and grooming Educational sessions: Stress, time, money management, assertiveness