Occupational analysis of the home: COPD and hip surgery

Teacher Guidelines
Student Learning Objectives
Role Simulated Participant

📄 You can download the full simulation scenario in your preferred language below:

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🧩 Simulation Overview

This simulation involves a role-play with Maria, a 70-year-old recovering from hip surgery and living with COPD. Her goals include independence in self-care, symptom management, maintaining household roles, and social participation. Students will conduct an occupational and home analysis (with a focus on the bathroom, variations possible), identify her needs, and define goals as a basis for future interventions to enhance mobility and quality of life. Modality: Hands-on Student roles:

Student roles	Number of students	Extra information
Occupational therapist	1	Conducts a structured analysis of Maria’s home, focusing on orthopedic and respiratory limitations. Assesses safety, mobility, pain, and breathing—especially in the bathroom. Actively discusses daily limitations and environmental factors with Maria. Accurately documents findings and uses clinical reasoning to set priorities. Collaborates with Maria to establish meaningful, achievable goals. Summarizes results and develops a plan for interventions or recommendations (Complete checklists/assessment and) participates in debriefing..
Participant	optional 1	Simulated Client (Maria) *(if no actor)* Portrays Maria according to the case description. Describes daily limitations resulting from hip surgery and COPD. Provides feedback on barriers and home functioning. Expresses motivation and concerns about independence and quality of life. (Complete checklists/assessment and) participates in debriefing.
Other simulated participant Please specify in extra information
Observer	Max 4	Evaluates therapist’s approach to home analysis Evaluates empathy and respectful, client-centred communication. Evaluates Maria’s commitment to identifying barriers and setting goals. Provides focused feedback on the quality of the analysis, goals, process and documentation. Completes evaluation forms and participates in debriefing.

Learning outcomes:

Learning outcomes (simOT Framework)

Domain A: Knowledge and attitudes supporting OT competence	A.4: Occupational therapists possess attitudes about The environment in which people choose to live Factors that present barriers to participation Individual and cultural differences in beliefs about causes of health, occupation, and occupational practices
Domain B: Managing and conducting OT process	B.1: Apply theories, approaches, and evidence-informed knowledge to inform, prioritize and guide the client-centred and occupation-based therapy process B.2.1: Occupational therapists assess occupational participation in all areas of human occupation (e.g., personal care, daily living, work/study/school, play, leisure, and rest) B.2.2: Occupational therapists jointly set goals and intervention plans with the client
Domain C: Developing and maintaining professional relationships and partnerships	C.1: Occupational therapists demonstrate competencies in engaging in effective professional communication C.2: Occupational therapists demonstrate competencies in establishing trusted professional relationships and partnerships.
Domain D: Professional autonomy and continuous professional development	D.1: Occupational therapists demonstrate competencies in professional autonomy and accountability. D.2: Occupational therapists demonstrate competencies in the management of oneself and one’s practice, service, and workplace.
Domain E: Promoting and advocating for the enhancement of the profession and social change
Domain F: General professional skills and competencies

🛠️ Preparation for the Simulation

Prerequisites:

Competencies	Specific description of prior knowledge, attitudes and skills
Knowledge	Basic understanding of Maria’s medical conditions (hip surgery, COPD) and their potential impact on self-care and mobility at home. Familiarity with concepts of energy conservation, safe transfers, and accessibility requirements in bathroom environments. Awareness of general rehabilitation needs related to orthopaedic and respiratory conditions
Attitudes	Respectful and client-centred attitude, sensitive to Maria’s daily routines and comfort. Empathy, responsibility, and professional engagement when interacting with clients in their home context.
Skills / Competencies	Ability to prepare for sessions by reviewing client data and analysing environmental photos or observations. Basic interviewing skills to gather information about daily routines and challenges. Clear and supportive communication to build rapport and trust. Organizational skills to structure assessments efficiently and document findings systematically.

📦 Actions and Materials

Action	Materials
Therapy room preparation	OT equipment, walking aids (e.g., 4-wheeled walker), chairs
Photos and floor plan	bathroom-oriented home photos, floor plan provided to scale
Documentation of client	Maria’s file (medical history, therapy goals, progress notes, assessments)
Therapist resources	pen, notepad and/or tablet
(Optional) Recording devices	camera, microphone, laptop – ensure privacy

Learning outcomes (simOT Framework)

Domain A: Knowledge and attitudes supporting OT competence	A.4: Occupational therapists possess attitudes about The environment in which people choose to live Factors that present barriers to participation Individual and cultural differences in beliefs about causes of health, occupation, and occupational practices
Domain B: Managing and conducting OT process	B.1: Apply theories, approaches, and evidence-informed knowledge to inform, prioritize and guide the client-centred and occupation-based therapy process B.2.1: Occupational therapists assess occupational participation in all areas of human occupation (e.g., personal care, daily living, work/study/school, play, leisure, and rest) B.2.2: Occupational therapists jointly set goals and intervention plans with the client
Domain C: Developing and maintaining professional relationships and partnerships	C.1: Occupational therapists demonstrate competencies in engaging in effective professional communication C.2: Occupational therapists demonstrate competencies in establishing trusted professional relationships and partnerships.
Domain D: Professional autonomy and continuous professional development	D.1: Occupational therapists demonstrate competencies in professional autonomy and accountability. D.2: Occupational therapists demonstrate competencies in the management of oneself and one’s practice, service, and workplace.

Name	Maria Janssens
Age	70 years (born 1943)
Sex	Female
Personal factors	Supportive husband as primary caregiver; two adult children nearby providing additional support. No professional care present yet
Ethnicity and cultural context	Belgian, Dutch-speaking
Reason the participant is seeking OT service and concerns related to engagement in occupations	Maria was referred for post-hip replacement rehab, COPD, and osteoarthritis management. She faces limited mobility, pain, and breathing difficulties that affect daily tasks. She seeks support to manage pain, improve breathing, improve mobility and quality of life. Maria aims to regain independence in self-care, maintain household roles, and spend time with loved ones.
Medical history and diagnosis	Recent left THR (Total Hip Replacement) (1 month ago) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Osteoarthritis, primarily in knees Current medications: pain management, respiratory support, post-surgical care