Time
Line for Occupational Therapy
What
is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a branch
of the medical field that focuses on helping individuals with
mental or physical illness or disabilities to achieve the highest
level of functioning and wellness possible in their daily lives.
The term occupation can be defined as meaningful activities people
engage in. This includes work, play, and leisure.
Occupational therapists use various
methods in the treatment of their patients to assist them in maximising
their potential in the categories of occupational performance
areas and occupational performance components. The term occupational
performance area refers to activities of daily living, such as
grooming, dressing, food preparation and eating, communication,
and mobility; work activities, including home management, care
of others, educational activities, and vocational activities;
and play or leisure activities. The term occupational performance
component refers to the functional abilities required to perform
the tasks of daily living. These abilities include sensory motor,
cognitive, and psychological components.
Occupational therapy emphasizes
the importance of a healthy balance in a person's life. In order
for a person to function at the highest level possible, they must
have a healthy mind as well as a healthy body. There should be
a balance between physical activities, such as personal hygiene,
eating, functional mobility and sleep; work activities, including
work for pay, housework, and educational activities; and leisure
or play activities, which can include socialising, exercising,
relaxing, participating in a sport, working on a craft such as
painting or needlework, or anything that provides the individual
with opportunities for enjoyment, relaxation, recreation, personal
growth, and goal achievement. Occupational therapists can help
patients identify and deal with imbalances they may have in their
lives. One way they might do this is through the use of an activity
configuration in conjunction with the initial interview of the
patient.
The occupational therapists initial
interview of a patient is of vital importance. It provides the
therapist with information about the patient that is necessary
for goal-setting and treatment planning. It also gives the patient
the opportunity to discuss their situation and helps establish
an understanding between the therapist and the patient. Information
gained during the initial interview generally includes information
related to the patient's work experience, leisure activities and
interests, values, ability to care for themselves and the quality
of their self-care, their former level of functioning, and the
patient's assessment of their own abilities and situation, as
well as their personal goals. All of this information is necessary
for treatment planning. A patient is much more likely to respond
to treatment if his or her values and interests are integrated
into the program than if their feelings are not taken into consideration.
Also, knowledge of the patient's former level of functioning as
well as how they perceive their current situation is important,
so as not to set unrealistic goals.
An important part of an occupational
therapist's job is working with and communicating with other members
of the health care team involved in their patient's care. Members
of the team may include physicians, nurses, physical therapists,
speech therapists, social workers, vocational counsellors, therapeutic
recreation specialists, psychologists, and dietary personnel.
Teamwork is vital for many reasons, including chaos prevention,
creation of a positive morale for staff, allowing of specialisation
and creativity among team members, and, most importantly, teamwork
increases the quality of care to the patient.
In conclusion, occupational therapy
is the treatment of illness or disability through activities which
strengthen and enhance a person's ability to function in the daily
activities associated with work, play, and leisure.
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Where
do Occupational Therapists Work?
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Nursing homes
- Acute care centers
- Long term care centers
- Rehabilitation centers
- Adult day care centers
- In patient's homes
If an occupational therapist
were working with a mentally disabled child in a school setting,
the OT may incorporate activities such as cutting with an adapted
scissors, to help the child increase strength in her fingers,
while at the same time improving her self-concept by enabling
her to perform a task other children in the class may also be
doing.
In an adult day-care setting, occupational therapy can be beneficial
to elderly individuals by providing socialisation and leisure
activities. Occupational therapists in such a setting could work
with the clients on performance components including sensory integration,
neuromuscular, and motor functioning through exercises, games,
and crafts. Such activities would also be psychologically beneficial,
providing a mean for the clients to express themselves, to identify
and/or express their interests and values, to enhance their self-concept,
and to engage in conversation with others who may be in similar
life situations.
It is much the same in the other settings. Occupational therapists
work with the clients to help them reach their maximum level of
functioning in their daily lives.
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