When our daily activities become more difficult, an Occupational Therapist will work with you to set goals and look at ways to improve your independence or safety. This may be through providing treatment, equipment or home modification recommendations as well as advice and education on techniques to manage tasks easier or independently.
An OT may conduct home safety assessments with a view to preventing falls at home, avoiding hospital admissions, or to assist with better managing at home due to a change in health conditions. Home safety assessments can also be performed to provide advice on how to manage after coming home from hospital following surgery, illness or injury. OTs can recommend equipment and small aids for managing daily tasks.
Some examples may include mobility aids walkers, wheelchairs, electric scooters , transfer equipment for getting in and out of the bed, car or lifters for moving people , seating and positioning, bathroom and toileting equipment shower chairs and equipment, toilet frames , meal preparation aids for arthritis or managing with restrictions in hand function , long-handled equipment if you have trouble reaching or after surgery.
OTs consult on access and home modifications. Examples may include grabbing rails in the bathroom, handrails, step modifications or ramps for wheelchair access. Occupational therapists work with all age groups and in a wide range of physical and psychosocial areas.
Places of employment may include hospitals, clinics, day and rehabilitation centres, home care programmes, special schools, industry and private enterprise. The occupational therapy process is based on initial and repeated assessments. The occupational therapist together with the person they are working with focus on individual and environmental abilities and problems related to activities in the person's daily life. Assessment includes the use of standardised procedures, interviews, observations in a variety of settings and consultation with significant people in the person's life.
The results of the assessment are the basis of the plan which includes short and long-term aims of treatment. The plan should be relevant to the person's development stage, habits, roles, life-style preferences and the environment. Intervention focuses on programs that are person oriented and environmental. These are designed to facilitate the performance of everyday tasks and adaptation of settings in which the person works, lives and socialises.
Occupations for children or young people may include self-care getting ready to go out, eating a meal, using the toilet , being productive going to nursery or school, or volunteering and leisure - playing with friends or doing hobbies. Occupational therapy can help people with a physical disability, including those who may have undergone an amputation, to pursue daily activities and favourite hobbies.
Occupational therapists support people with all types of learning disabilities to help them continue with life skills, work and leisure activities as independently as possible.
They will:. Occupational therapists help people to develop a personally satisfying routine of everyday activities that creates a sense of purpose and enhances the person's recovery journey. Occupational therapists can help older people to continue doing the daily activities that maintain their health and wellbeing and are important to them.
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