Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (also abbreviated as OT) is the use of treatments to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills of patients with a physical, mental or developmental condition. Occupational therapy is a client-centered practice that places a premium on the progress towards the client’s goals. Occupational therapy interventions focus on adapting the environment, modifying the task, teaching the skill, and educating the
client/family in order to increase participation in and performance of daily activities, particularly those that are meaningful to the client.
Occupational Tehrapist
Occupational therapists help people with mental, physical or social disabilities to independently carry out everyday tasks or occupations. They work
with both children and adults of all ages, whose difficulties may have been presence since birth, or the result of an accident, illness, ageing or lifestyle.
Occupational therapists create individual treatment programs to help people carry out their daily tasks and to do so with more confidence and
independence. They may suggest changes to the person’s environment, whetherthat be at home, work or school, and may introduce the use of equipment which will help with some activities. Occupational therapists review the treatments periodically, evaluate progress and make changes to the treatment as needed.
Typical work activities
Occupational therapists work with a diverse range of people who all have different needs. Their aim is to understand each person’s requirements and
lifestyle so they can create the best treatment plan for them. The work an occupational therapist carries out may include:
a) advise on specialist equipment to assist with daily activities;
b) develop a rehabilitation programme to help re-build lost skills and restore lost confidence;
c)advise on home and workplace environmental alterations, such as adjustments for wheelchair access;
d) teach anxiety management techniques;
e) assist people to return to work;
f) coach people with learning difficulties or poor social skills, e.g. in handling money and social interaction;
g) mentor people on how to control their own behaviour;
h) liaise with a wide variety of other professionals, such as doctors, physiotherapists, social workers, equipment suppliers and architects,
as well as patients’ families, carers and employers;
i) write reports and attend multidisciplinary case meetings to plan and review ongoing treatment;
j) organize support and rehabilitation groups for carers and clients;
k) train students and supervise the work of occupational therapy assistants;
l) manage a caseload, prioritising needs, and completing administrative tasks such as patient and budgetary records.
How does occupational therapy help?
Occupational therapy provides the skills for the job of living to help people lead productive and satisfying lives.
Occupational therapists consider occupation to be everything people do to occupy themselves, including looking after themselves (self-care), enjoying life (leisure), and contributing to the social and economic fabric of their communities (work/productivity).
Occupational therapy works to break down the barriers which impede individuals in their everyday activities. Occupational therapists examine not only the physical effects of an injury or disease, but also address the psycho-social, community and environmental factors that influence function.