ABSTRACT
From the point of view of the occupational therapist, older people do not have very different needs from the rest of the population. It is perhaps more important with older people than with the rest of the population to consider their particular world view, because, almost by definition, it will be more firmly established than that of younger people. Half a century or more of adult life almost guarantees a wealth of likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, firm opinions and strong beliefs. An experienced occupational therapist will always take particular account of these in working with older people, but the full range of treatment approaches and skills described later in this chapter is as relevant to older people as to the general population.
