How does occupational therapy help people live meaningfully even as life nears its end? In this deeply human episode of the AOTA Podcast, we sit down with Lindsey Buddelmeyer, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, Christian Jacobus, MD, FACEP, FAAHPM, David Benthall, MS, OTR/L, BCG, and Heather McKay, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, to explore how occupational therapy practitioners bring dignity, purpose, and connection to individuals navigating serious illness, hospice, and palliative care.

Together, our guests share how OTPs address functional decline, support legacy work and life review, and empower caregivers facing loss and transition. From bedside stories to systems-level advocacy, this conversation highlights how occupational therapy bridges the physical and the emotional to help clients find meaning, comfort, and autonomy at every stage of care.

Resources:

• AOTA Official Document: End-of-Life Care and the Role of Occupational Therapy (2023)

• Quality of Life: Occupational Therapy in Chronic Condition Management, Palliative Care, and Hospice (AOTA Press)