Presentations, Evidence & Practice Realities for Occupational Therapists

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Dementia is one of the most complex presentations Occupational Therapists encounter in community aged care. The challenge isn't simply understanding dementia—it is knowing how to translate that knowledge into practical, evidence-informed intervention within the realities of community practice.

Under Support at Home, Occupational Therapists are increasingly navigating the tension between reablement expectations, progressive cognitive and functional decline, risk, carer capacity, limited service availability and the needs of the person living with dementia.

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This practical on-demand webinar has been designed specifically for Occupational Therapists working with older adults in community aged care. It explores dementia through an occupational therapy lens, focusing on function, participation, cognition, environment, routines, safety and quality of life.

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You'll develop a stronger understanding of common dementia presentations, explore evidence-based Occupational Therapy approaches and work through realistic community case scenarios to consider what intervention can actually look like in practice.

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Why This Webinar Matters

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People living with dementia rarely present with a straightforward clinical picture.

A person may be experiencing cognitive changes alongside falls, medication difficulties, reduced initiation, changes in routines, carer stress, environmental risks or withdrawal from meaningful activities.

 

For Occupational Therapists, the question is not simply "What type of dementia does this person have?" but:

How is their cognitive impairment affecting what they need and want to do, and what can we realistically change?

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This webinar helps bridge the gap between dementia theory and everyday community practice.

You'll explore how to recognise functional presentations, apply evidence-informed interventions and make sound clinical decisions when the ideal intervention isn't always possible within the constraints of the aged care system.

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What You'll Learn

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Understanding Dementia Presentations

• Common types of dementia encountered in community aged care.

• How different cognitive presentations can affect occupational performance.

• Functional impacts across everyday activities, routines and participation.

• Changes in cognition, behaviour, safety and independence.

• Understanding the relationship between the person, their environment and their occupations.

 

Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Approaches

Explore the evidence and practical application of approaches including:

• COPE (Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments).

• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST).

• Cognitive retraining and compensatory strategies.

• Environmental modification.

• Adaptive and compensatory approaches.

• Reablement and restorative principles in dementia care.

 

We consider not just what the evidence says, but how these approaches can realistically translate into community Occupational Therapy practice.

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Practice Realities

Explore the realities that often sit between evidence and practice:​

• Balancing independence and safety.

• Carer capacity and competing priorities.

• Limited service availability and hours.

• Navigating expectations around reablement.

• Knowing when the system doesn't neatly fit the person's needs.

 

Practice Scenarios

Talk through realistic community-based dementia scenarios and consider:

• What is actually driving the functional difficulty?

• What should the OT assess?

• What interventions are appropriate?

• What can realistically be changed?

• How should risk and carer capacity influence your approach?

• When should you consider referral or additional support?

 

What You'll Walk Away With

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By the end of this webinar you'll have:

• Greater confidence recognising common dementia presentations and their functional impact.

• A clearer understanding of dementia through an Occupational Therapy lens.

• Practical strategies for assessing cognition, function, participation and environmental factors.

• Greater familiarity with evidence-based OT approaches including COPE and CST.

• Strategies for applying reablement and restorative principles in dementia care.

• Stronger clinical reasoning when balancing function, safety, risk and carer capacity.

• Greater confidence translating dementia evidence into realistic community interventions.

 

Who Should Enrol?

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This webinar is ideal for:

• Occupational Therapists working in community aged care.

• Occupational Therapists delivering services under Support at Home.

• OTs supporting older adults living with dementia or cognitive impairment.

• Newly graduated Occupational Therapists entering aged care.

• Experienced clinicians wanting to strengthen their dementia practice.

• Team Leaders and Clinical Leads supporting OT practice.

 

Suitable for Occupational Therapists at all experience levels.

 

Why Choose This Webinar?

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Dementia education can easily become focused on diagnosis, symptoms and disease progression. This webinar takes a different approach.

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It focuses on what Occupational Therapists need to know to work effectively with people living with dementia in the community.

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We explore:

Function rather than diagnosis alone.
Evidence-based intervention approaches.
Reablement in the context of progressive conditions.
Risk and safety in the home.
Carer capacity.

The realities and limitations of community aged care services.

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What's Included

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• Full on-demand webinar recording.

• Certificate of completion suitable for CPD records.

• Flexible access so you can learn at your own pace.