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.
Occupational therapists (OTs) help patients get back to daily activities they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Occupational therapy treatments include:
- Helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations,
- Helping people recovering from injury to regain skills,
- Providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
OT services typically include:
- An evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals,
- Customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
- An outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
Occupational therapy services may include:
- A comprehensive examination and interventions based on the client’s home environment, school setting, or workplace.
- Recommendations are commonly made for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregivers.
Source: AOTA
