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Hooray for Occupational Therapists
It’s occupational therapy month!
It’s time to celebrate a group of life-changing professionals who are often overlooked—it’s National Occupational Therapy Month!
What is occupational therapy?
Many may not even know what occupational therapists do until we, or someone close to us, need their specialized help. In short, occupational therapists help patients perform tasks in daily-life such as self-care skills, the tools they need to succeed in school or at work, or even help in social situations. Therapists help improve a patient's quality of life by teaching techniques that they can incorporate to avoid hurting themselves while doing various tasks, better function at work or at home, and generally live their lives to the fullest while either living with a disability, or healing from an injury or illness.
Who does an occupational therapist help?
Occupational therapists assist a wide variety of patients, from helping children with disabilities participate fully in school or social activities, to teaching an injured employee the skills they need as they return to work, to helping people with limitations or restrictions become employable, essential and valued members of the workforce. Occupational therapists also help elderly patients maintain or regain their independence.
What’s involved when someone gets help from an occupational therapist?
Meeting with an occupational therapist isn't a one-time event. A typical therapist-patient relationship starts with an assessment of the task, or job, that the patient hopes to perform, along with the evaluation of the patient in his or her home—or work—environment. The patient and therapist then develop a plan, which may also include input from family members and employers, and the two work closely together to develop a therapy program to best meet the patient’s goals and desired outcome.
How do occupational therapists make a difference?
Therapists take a holistic perspective, that doesn't only focus on the therapy aspect, but also helps design and implement adaptations to the environment or task to help a patient be as successful as possible. In the end, they provide people with a better quality of life, work and a healthier sense of independence.
Thank an occupational therapist this month—and every month!
So, if you meet an OT, thank these caring professionals this month, or even when it’s not National Occupational Therapy Month. Not only do they help people learn the life-changing skills they need to work or live, but even better, they provide patients with something far more powerful: the confidence they need live a happier, more independent life.
