How Can Occupational Therapy Help You?

Articles

Apr 1

The month of April is Occupational Therapy month! We aim to bring awareness to others about the discipline of occupational therapy this month and throughout the year. Occupational therapists can work with individuals of all ages, throughout the lifespan. When you hear the word occupation, one generally thinks of a job or a profession. In the case of occupational therapy, this word refers to the activities of daily living, which may include your work, education, social interactions, engaging in hobbies, performing general tasks around your home, self-care, and mental health. Occupational therapy can be helpful for those in development, in recovery, or simply adjusting to a new state of normal in their lives which comes with natural aging. The goal of occupational therapy is to help individuals gain or strengthen their skills to live as independently as possible.

The Role of Occupational Therapy

The activities of daily living (ADLs) are the things we do each day without assistance from others. The basic ADLs involve toileting, eating, dressing, bathing, and other related actions. Occupational therapists generally work with individuals to support them in their daily activities. The home environment is also an area occupational therapists may examine. They can make changes to the environment so it is better suited to the needs of the individual.

At times, individuals are referred to an occupational therapist from their doctor after injury or diagnosis of disability. They will work with a person to help them develop and improve their skills so they can carry on with life in the most optimal way. Occupational therapists focus mainly on how someone can achieve the greatest potential with any limitations or diagnoses they are presented. Through their work, they can help individuals achieve better health, well being, and improve their overall quality of life.

Individuals Who Work with Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists can work with individuals at any age or stage of life. With children, occupational therapists often work on the development of social skills and major developmental milestones. Some children with different abilities can benefit from working with an occupational therapist to help them participate in school, sports, or engage in hobbies.

For adults, occupational therapists can assist after a major life change or injury. It can be very impactful for individuals who have undergone surgery or have experienced a change to their abilities. Therapists might work with an individual to physically adjust to changes to be able to go back to work, or they may work with an individual’s cognitive abilities to help them return to work or engage in their routine. No matter the case, occupational therapists work on an individualized basis. Each treatment plan is different and unique to suit the needs of the individual. The therapist works with a person and their family to set goals, create a plan through therapeutic intervention, and carry out the therapy to reach goals while making any needed changes along the way.

Evaluation

To begin therapy with an occupational therapist, an evaluation is typically the first step. The therapist will evaluate an individuals abilities through observation and communication. They may observe an individual engage in certain tasks or actions to gauge the appropriate response and therapeutic intervention. For instance, for an individual who has limited mobility, they may suggest installing assistive handrails or rearranging furniture to prevent falls at home. Those with diminished cognitive abilities may require assistance remembering where things are in their home through labels on doors or cabinets. Because an occupational therapist works with you in your natural environment, they have a clear idea of your unique circumstances and can develop a plan to best suit your needs in your home environment. Over time, an occupational therapist will observe and determine whether the changes or actions taken are progressing the individual toward their goals.

Types of Therapy

Although occupational therapy does sometimes include physical aspects, it is a different discipline than physical therapy. Although both occupational and physical therapy offer practical solutions to better establish independence, the focus and goals of each discipline are different. The activities you need to complete in your daily life may be impacted by physical limitations, but can involve other aspects other than just movement. A physical therapist will focus mainly on a person’s mobility, engage in specific exercises, and provide hands-on treatment. At times, occupational therapists will include a recommendation of utilizing assistive equipment to help a person achieve their goals. Both physical and occupational therapy aim to achieve maximum independence for each individual and often work in conjunction with one another to help their clients in the most holistic way.

Why Occupational Therapy?

Illness or major life changes can feel debilitating or frustrating and often result in a need for adjustment in a person’s daily routine. Some actions can become much more difficult than they were previously, and occupational therapists can help establish and navigate the path to achieve maximum independence. If an individual is in need of assistance adapting to a new circumstance in their life, occupational therapy can be very a helpful option. Occupational therapy is a route for individuals to identify their current abilities and develop a plan to reach their goals in their daily life.

Looking for more information about occupational therapy? Read about how our occupational therapy team can help you in the regions of Northern Nevada, Southern Nevada, Oregon, or Hawaii. If you or some you love are in need of assistance to perform the meaningful and necessary activities in your life, the Tilton’s Therapy team can help! Whether focusing on neuromuscular function, compensation skills or adaptation, motor function, vocational skills, self-care tasks, or mental health and cognition, occupational therapy can be your path to living more independently and fully. Contact our team to ask questions and learn more about how we can help.