Vocational rehabilitation of the older worker.

Work is an important social role. A disability can interfere with a person's work abilities and opportunities at any age. Unfortunately, the older population has received disproportionately little attention in rehabilitation, particularly in vocational rehabilitation. This is true, in spite of the fact that there is a growing population of older persons, with a high prevalence of disability. When returning an older disabled person to work, consideration of his or her particular physical, psychological, and social characteristics is required. This paper discusses the involvement of occupational therapists in the returning of older persons to work.