Degree Name

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Chen, Szu-Wei

Abstract

Older adults living on the South Side of Chicago, particularly African American older adults in underserved communities, face significant barriers to meaningful social participation. As a result, this population is at increased risk for negative health outcomes associated with reduced social participation, highlighting the need for targeted, community-based interventions. This project utilized two phases of community needs assessments and the key findings emphasized the importance of strengths-based approaches to aging, the need for diverse and inclusive programming, variability in functional ability, the role of client-centered communication, and the significance of social participation as a core occupational need. The findings informed two resulting deliverables aimed to enhance staff knowledge and provide practical strategies for improving program accessibility, engagement, and inclusivity. The purpose of this capstone project was to integrate occupational therapy principles into community-based programming to promote social participation among African American older adults on the South Side of Chicago. This project demonstrates the value of occupational therapy in community-based and non-traditional settings and highlights its role in addressing health disparities and promoting occupational justice.

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