Occupational therapists treat injured, ill or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes, helping them to stay as independent as possible. Therapists who work with the elderly help their patients lead more independent and active lives. They assess patients’ abilities and environment and make recommendations. For example, therapists may identify potential fall hazards in a patient’s home and recommend their removal.
Occupational therapy services may include comprehensive evaluations of the client’s home and other environments (e.g., workplace, school), recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregivers. Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team.
Factors that will increase the need for occupational therapy services include a growing aging population with increased longevity, an increased focus on health care disparities affecting treatment and services, the health effects of rising rates of obesity, and factors that challenge the quality and pace of life.
Some occupational therapists, such as in the case at Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association, work as part of a health care team along with doctors, registered nurses and other types of therapists. They may work with patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, or help rehabilitate a patient recovering from hip replacement surgery.
Theresa Santoro is the executive director of the Ridgefield Visiting nurse Association, the RVNA