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What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a form of therapy that offers support to people with health problems that prevent them from doing daily activities which matter to them. Occupational therapy (OT) is administered by occupational therapists. The main role of occupational therapists is identifying the strengths and difficulties a patient might have on a daily basis i.e. dressing, going to the store, etc. and helping work out practical solutions for such problems.
Occupational therapists help their patients identify goals that will help them maintain, regain or improve their independence using different techniques, new equipment and/or effecting changes in a patient’s environment.
Who Needs Occupational Therapy? Who Can Benefit from It?
Occupational therapy is great for anyone with difficulties performing everyday tasks because of a medical condition i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, injury (from an accident), a learning disability or a mental health condition like bipolar disorder. Occupational therapists work with all kinds of people in all age groups and from all walks of life. They also offer their services from anywhere i.e. home, school, workplaces, etc.
When to Seek Treatment?
Occupational therapy is highly recommended for treating and managing a wide range of health conditions and needs that may be present from birth, or that may have developed with age or resulted from an accident.
Occupational therapy is usually used as part of rehabilitation programs designed to help individuals recover from injury or illness. Below are some of the main instances occupational therapy is used;
a. Treating medical conditions
Occupational therapy is used to treat medical conditions such as; arthritis, depression, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, dyspraxia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
b. Treating conditions in children
Occupational therapy may work for some conditions in children such as; cerebral palsy, down’s syndrome, learning disability and spina bifida. In general, occupational therapy may be used to help children with developmental disabilities, sensory processing difficulties, and psychosocial needs. OT is also used to promote wellness programs in schools i.e. preventing childhood obesity.
c. Addressing ageing challenges
Occupational therapy is also used to treat challenges brought about by ageing i.e. movement problems, dementia, stroke, etc. Elderly individuals who have problems getting out of bed, climbing stairs, etc. can often perform these tasks after undergoing occupational therapy, or additional aids to help keep them independent.
d. Mental health
Occupational therapy is also used to treat mental health problems such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, trauma and stressor-related disorders, deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder and learning disorders. Occupational therapists assist patients who have mental illnesses get the skills they require to care for themselves as well as others. Such skills include; self-care/hygiene skills, coping skills, routine building, social skills, and money management.
e. General health and wellness
Occupational therapy is also useful in general health and wellness. The therapy is used in the prevention of disease, injury, and secondary conditions. Occupational therapy is also used to promote the well-being of individuals suffering from chronic illnesses. OT is also used to reduce health care disparities as well as promote healthy living practices.
Occupational Therapy Techniques
How Do Occupational Therapists Help?
Occupational therapists start by identifying the difficulties faced by a patient on a daily basis. There are four main ways an occupational therapist can help.
They include the following:
1. Helping the patient perform activities they have problems with i.e. by breaking down the activities into manageable steps/stages.
2. Teaching the patient different ways of completing challenging activities.
3. Recommending changes that make challenging activities easier to perform.
4. Recommending devices to make challenging activities easier to perform.
For example, many seniors have problems climbing stairs. An occupational therapist can recommend useful devices i.e. stair lifts that help individuals climb stairs in their home easily.
Stages of the Treatment Process
a. Individualized evaluation: Occupational therapy begins with individualized evaluation. During this stage, a patient visits an occupational therapist (the therapist can also visit the patient). During the visit, the therapist identifies the patient’s personal challenges and goals.
b. Custom intervention: After carrying out an evaluation, the therapist recommends custom interventions meant to improve the patient’s ability to perform day-to-day activities and reach their personal goals.
c. Outcome evaluation: During this treatment stage, the therapist evaluates the patient to see if the custom intervention/s recommended have worked. If not, the therapist recommends changes to the patient’s custom intervention plan.
Occupational therapists follow a systematic sequence of actions referred to as; the occupational therapy process. Although there are many versions of the process, all versions have the basic evaluation, intervention and outcome components.
Occupational therapists among other practitioners in the field focus on holistic treatment techniques i.e. they focus on adapting the environment or the task or both to fit a patient. The patient is a key player in the therapy team. This treatment process is very effective. Occupational therapy treatment is evidence-based and deeply rooted in science.
How Do You Access Treatment?
The first step to accessing occupational therapy treatment is visiting your doctor. Your doctor shouldn't have a problem referring to you to a certified occupational therapist. You can also get referrals from a nurse or any other healthcare professional.
Areas of Practice
Occupational therapists can work in very many different settings. They can also work with all kinds of patients and practice in many different specialities. Occupational therapists have a broad spectrum of practice which makes it difficult to categorize all the different areas of OT practice that exist especially in regards to different countries as well as different healthcare systems.
There are many areas of OT practice, and these divisions are mainly defined by the group they serve. For instance, mental health or acute physical settings (i.e. hospitals), sub-acute settings (i.e. long-term care facilities), community settings and outpatient clinics.
In every area of practice in OT, occupational therapists can work with in different settings with different populations, diagnosis, and specialities. The first step of treatment i.e. evaluation should be able to guide occupational therapists to proceed with treatment or refer patients to specialized care.
Related Posts
Ergonomics is the science of matching the work to the worker. Ergonomics in the workplace focuses on making the environment, products and tasks efficient for the user to improve worker safety and comfort. Creative Therapy Associates’ registered Occupational Therapists (OT) offer a variety of ergonomic programs from workstation assessments to employee training sessions. Applying ergonomic principles in the work environment will provide your employees with increased comfort, improved morale and job satisfaction, and will lead to enhanced worker productivity. As an employer, you will benefit from injury prevention, early return to work, reduced absenteeism, decreased costs resulting from fewer sick days, lower compensation payments, and improved worker morale. Creating a comfortable, safe work environment often involves applying a few simple adaptations and strategies identified and implemented by individuals qualified in ergonomics. Creative Therapy Associates can work with you to develop the program best suited to meet the needs of your business.
Illness, injury, surgery or aging can all affect our ability to function safely and independently within our own homes. An Occupational Therapist can work with you to ensure that your home is safe and functional. After assessing the environment and the activities you do each day, they will make recommendations to reduce the risk of falls or injuries in your home, or to make it easier for you to complete everyday tasks. This might include suggestions such as improving lighting or removing small rugs that could cause tripping, or recommendations for assistive devices or equipment, such as grab bars in the bathroom, to make it easier and safer to transfer to the tub or shower for safer bathing. Falls account for 85% of hospital emergency room admissions for people over the age of 65. For suggestions on how to make your home safer, read Preventing Falls -- Safety in the Home , and arrange to have an Occupational Therapist complete a home safety assessment by contacting our office, or your healthcare provider.
Falls are the main reason older adults lose their independence. There are ways to prevent falls in your home by making simple changes around your home, exercising regularly, having your vision checked and having your medications reviewed by your healthcare provider. You may also benefit from having an Occupational Therapist complete a home safety assessment. Contact Our Office to find out more. Here are some ways to prevent falls and maintain your independence:
If you have been involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident and have experienced physical injury or trauma, our multi-disciplinary team of occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists can support you. We have experience working within Ontario’s system for automobile insurance benefits, the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), and are licensed by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) as service providers through Health Claims for Auto Insurance (HCAI).
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Our team specializes in speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy for children, adults, and seniors. Our offices are in Thunder Bay, Ontario, but we travel to communities in Northwestern Ontario.
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