Occupational therapy is a medical specialty. It focuses on assisting people in accomplishing all of their goals and needs daily. Work, school, hobbies, social situations, and home activities are examples of these. If you have a disability, are recovering from a medical incident like a stroke, or have undergone surgery, your doctor may recommend you to an occupational therapist.
Occupational therapy attempts to enhance people’s health and their quality of life by assisting them with their daily activities. Occupational therapists assist people develop, heal, and increase their skills while retaining their ability to function in society.
What Are The Duties Of Occupational Therapists?
Occupational therapists (OTs) provide practical guidance and support to persons who need assistance with daily tasks. Their work focuses on modifying a person’s surroundings to better suit them and the activities they desire and require. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages.
Typical examples of what they do are:
- assisting those who are dealing through physical changes in their ability to continue working
- assisting those who are experiencing shifts in their thinking or memory to continue functioning
- assisting disabled students in fully participating in school
- assisting disabled people in participating in social situations, hobbies, or sports
What Can You Expect?
During a session with an occupational therapist, the OT will assess the person’s abilities and aspirations. The manner in which they accomplish this will be very dependent on the individual and their requirements.
However, the therapist will normally begin by reviewing the person’s medical history and asking them questions about their daily activities. They may then request to observe the person perform particular tasks.
The OT may also assess the person’s home, school, or employment to determine if there are any areas that could be improved. They might recommend labeling the kitchen cabinets of elderly persons with memory loss or putting a handrail in the bathroom for people who have trouble moving around.
The OT will utilize this information to construct a therapy plan once they have a clear understanding of the person’s situation and aspirations. They may recommend and assist with the use of special equipment, such as dining aids or wheelchairs.
