Occupational Therapy can positively impact people across every stage of life.
Occupational therapy helps people of any age learn to live well by adapting to physical, cognitive or sensory limitations and differences. The term “occupational” refers to the normal, everyday tasks or “occupations” that people perform at home, school or workplace.
A lack of knowledge of OT, or an incorrect understanding of what OT is can lead many older adults to not realize that it can be useful to them.
Occupational therapy is often associated with treating physical difficulties. That is true to a certain extent: OT can help a person learn or relearn new ways to perform basic daily occupations like brushing teeth, eating a meal or taking a shower.
Occupational therapists can also teach more efficient ways to function, important life skills, and even evaluate a home for hazards. Occupational therapist can:
- Rearrange regularly used items such as medications, tools or utensils, clothing and shoes, etc to make them more accessible
- Assess the home to identify fall hazards and features that need to be modified to suit a person’s needs. This includes things like installing grab bars in hallways and bathrooms, upgrading light switches, adding lighting in dark spaces, replacing standard door knobs with easier to open handles, rearranging furniture, relocating rugs and electrical cords, the list goes on…with the purpose of preventing falls and giving a person safer access to their own home
- Teach how to use assistive devices like a cane or walker, raised toilet seat, speech tablet, etc. Can also teach how to navigate changing technology– how to work a computer or smartphone, how to order groceries, how to stay connected to loved ones by learning to text or email, how to operate the television remote, and much more
Occupational therapists also address mental health issues. With normal physical decline that comes with the aging process, older adults are prone to depression or losing interest in activities that they once enjoyed. According to the CDC, an estimated 20% of people over 55 years of age experience some type of mental health concern, the most common including anxiety, severe cognitive impairment, depression and bipolar disorder. Occupational therapists can recognize mental illness and how it’s impacting a person’s life. They can teach skills and coping mechanisms to help improve and manage mental health. OT can help a person re-engage in hobbies and activities they once loved in new ways, or help them discover new interests that generate joy and excitement in life.
OT may also help with chronic pain. Occupational therapists work closely with their patients to learn about their pain. They can then provide tailored strength building exercises, teach relaxation techniques and educate on the brain’s response to pain.
Occupational therapy looks different for every patient, as it is based on that person’s unique needs and current level of capability. Occupational therapy is unique in that it focuses on both physical and mental health. OT worries less about “fixing” and more about building strength, teaching skills, educating, and offering tools that will assist a person long term. Occupational therapy teaches a person to live the best life they are capable of living right now, and evolves as a person’s abilities and capabilities change.
DISCLAIMER: This article contains information that is intended to help the readers be better informed regarding exercise and health care. It is presented as general advice on health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual needs. Before beginning any new exercise program it is recommended that you seek medical advice from your personal physician. This article is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed physician. The reader should consult with their doctor in any matters relating to his/her health.
