What Does an Occupational Therapist Do? A Guide for Families

While many people are familiar with physiotherapy, the role of an occupational therapist can sometimes be less clear. In simple terms, occupational therapists help people of all ages to overcome challenges caused by illness, injury, or ageing, enabling them to do the things that matter most in their daily lives.

Understanding ‘Occupations’ in Daily Life

When occupational therapists (OTs) talk about ‘occupations’, they aren’t just referring to a person’s job or career. The term covers all the meaningful activities we do every day. It’s helpful to think of these in three main categories:

• Self-Care: These are the essential tasks we do to look after ourselves, such as washing, dressing, getting to and from the toilet, and preparing meals.
• Productivity: This includes activities related to managing your home, such as cleaning, shopping, or managing personal finances.
• Leisure: This covers the hobbies and interests that bring joy and fulfilment, from gardening and reading to socialising with family and friends.

A change in health can make any of these occupations difficult, impacting a person’s confidence and independence. The goal of an OT is to find practical ways to overcome these barriers.

The Occupational Therapy Process at Home

Receiving therapy in your own home allows the OT to see the real-world challenges you face. Rather than being in a clinical setting, the therapist can provide relevant, practical advice that works for you and your environment. The process typically involves:

1. A Holistic Assessment: The OT will spend time talking with you and your family to understand your daily routines, your home layout, and what you are finding difficult. Most importantly, they will listen to what you want to be able to achieve. This is a collaborative process focused entirely on your personal goals.
2. Problem-Solving and Planning: Once your goals are clear, the OT will work with you to create a plan. This might involve learning new techniques to complete a task, recommending specialist equipment to make life easier, or suggesting simple adaptations to your home.
3. Ongoing Support: The therapist provides ongoing support to ensure the solutions are working. This could involve practicing new skills, adjusting equipment, or providing guidance and reassurance for family members and carers.

Who Can Benefit from Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy can provide invaluable support for people with long-term conditions and those recovering from a sudden illness or injury. An OT can help older adults who are:

• Recovering from a stroke, operation, or fall.
• Living with a long-term condition such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, or dementia.
• Finding it harder to manage everyday tasks like getting out of a chair or bed.
• Feeling anxious about their safety or mobility around the home.

The focus is always on enabling the individual to live safely and with dignity in their own home, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and improving their overall quality of life.

A Practical Approach to Restoring Independence

Ultimately, an occupational therapist is a practical problem-solver who focuses on function and independence. They look at the whole person, not just their medical condition, to understand what is important to them. By providing tailored advice, adapting the environment, and teaching new strategies, our occupational therapy services aim to empower individuals to continue participating in the daily activities that give their life meaning.