What Occupational Therapy Does

Did you know that occupational therapy was founded by three men and three women in the year of 1917? OT allows patients to participate in every day “occupations.” You may be wondering what does “occupations” mean? An “occupation” includes any activity that an individual wants or needs to participate in daily life. This can include things like getting dressed to driving a car.

Who needs occupational therapy?

An individual can receive therapy at any stage of their life and any age. Occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants are trained to provide care to patients with varying illnesses. Some illnesses that OT may be beneficial to include:

1. Stroke

2. Fractures

3. Surgery

4. Accident

5. Spinal cord injury

6. Orthopedic impairments

Where can you get occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy can be received in various settings. This includes nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient clinics, etc. Clinicians of Cornerstone Rehab work primarily in long-term care facilities providing care to the older population.

Why does one need occupational therapy?

OT allows people to live a better life by promoting health, preventing injury and overcoming illnesses. For older adults, occupational therapy interventions help them recover from surgeries and/or live better with illnesses or disabilities. Clinicians create personalized health care plans to provide support to older adults who are experiencing cognitive and physical deficits that come with age. Occupational therapists take a holistic approach which includes taking a patient’s environment and task into consideration when providing care.

Occupational therapy can help with both gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills help with strength, balance, coordination and endurance. This can affect activities such as walking, climbing stairs, jumping, etc.  Fine motor skills involve the hand muscles. Older adults have difficulty with controlling finer hand movements due to a lack of strength, dexterity and motor control. The activities that benefit from this kind of targeted therapy include cooking, writing, eating, etc.

Clinicians of Cornerstone Rehab specialize in providing top-notch care to patients recovering from various illnesses. Learn more here.