Occupational therapists help people with disabilities, illnesses, and injuries improve their ability to perform daily living activities. While this may sound simple, there are many different ways that OTs can help their patients achieve better function through the use of both medical interventions and therapy techniques.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a health profession that helps people with mental, physical, developmental, and or sensory disabilities to participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. The role of an occupational therapist depends on whom you ask. Some say that it’s about helping people who have deficits in their ability to perform tasks using their hands or eyes by making adjustments so that they can participate more fully in daily life; others say it’s more about helping someone cope with an injury or illness by teaching them how to do certain things again (like driving) after losing some independence.
What Does An Occupational Therapist Do?
Occupational therapists assess and treat people with physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments. They also teach patients how to perform daily tasks by providing treatment plans that are individualized to the patient’s needs.
Occupational therapists work with individuals who have difficulty performing everyday tasks such as bathing and dressing due to an injury or illness. In addition to helping patients maintain independence in these activities, occupational therapists can assist those suffering from mental retardation by teaching them at Home. Whoever you can care for themselves at Assisted living or in Nursing Home.
The Primary Roles And Responsibilities Of An OT
The primary roles and responsibilities of an Occupational Therapist are:
- The provision of health promotion, rehabilitation, and management services to clients with disabilities.
- Providing instruction and training in the application of therapeutic methods to enable clients with disabilities to maximize their functional capabilities through self-help activities.
- Assisting individuals who are unable to perform manual tasks because of a physical or sensory loss, or for some other reason (e.g., mental impairment). In addition, occupational therapists may provide supervision during leisure time activities such as swimming or playing cards.
- Other duties include working closely with other professionals within the rehabilitation field such as speech pathologists, physical therapists, and psychologists; providing input into policy development at all levels (local/state) participating in research projects related to your specialty area conducting training programs on behalf of organizations that employ you collaborating on grant proposals.
Whom Do Occupational Therapists Treat?
The Occupational Therapist is primarily concerned with the treatment of people who need Disability Care but also may be involved in the rehabilitation of those who are recovering from surgery. In addition to their own patients, OTs work with others as well:
- Children and adults who have disabilities or illnesses that need attention from an Occupational Therapist.
- People with disabilities may not have access to other forms of therapy (such as physical therapy).
- People who are recovering from injury or illness by using assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches. These devices can help restore movement to joints that have been stiffened by injury or disease; however, they do not correct issues related directly to muscle weakness/spasticity (the inability of muscles to control movement due to neurological damage). To address these problems an occupational therapist will provide instruction on how best to use assistive devices while still maintaining mobility within their limits so they feel comfortable moving around safely without causing further harm done itself.
Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy
- Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that focuses on the rehabilitation of injured or disabled people.
- Physical therapists treat patients with disabilities or injuries that affect their ability to perform everyday tasks.
Both occupational therapists and physical therapists can help people who suffer from conditions like arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other chronic illnesses.
How To Become An Occupational Therapist
To become an occupational therapist, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. Some states require that candidates have a master’s degree before they can take their national certification exams.
In addition to earning your college degree, you’ll also need to complete clinical residency programs after graduation. These programs prepare graduates for the workforce by teaching them about various aspects of occupational therapy (such as patient care and management). After completing these steps and passing all necessary exams (including those required by your state), it’s time for potential OTs to apply for jobs.
Conclusion
With a career in occupational therapy, you can help people with disabilities by helping them to regain their independence and get back on their feet. You’ll be working closely with families or individuals who have developmental disabilities like autism or cerebral palsy, as well as people who have physical limitations in their daily lives such as arthritis pain. For More Detail Contact Us or you can also visit our website www.iconiccare.com.au.
