Occupational therapy empowers men and women of all ages to live life to its fullest by supporting them to encourage health, prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. It is a practice that revolves around science and is evidence-based, meaning that the plan designed for each individual is supported by data, experience, and “best practices” that have been developed and established over time.
If a senior in your life is receiving home care services, you might also consider asking their physician about Occupational Therapy services that are often covered by Medicare.
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on “doing” whatever occupations or activities are meaningful to the man or woman. It is occupational therapy’s purpose to get way beyond difficulties to the alternatives that promise living life to its fullest. These remedies may be variations for how to do a task, changes to the surroundings, or assisting folks to modify their own behaviors.
When working with an occupational therapy practitioner, procedures and adjustments are tailor-made for each particular person to resolve problems, increase function, and aid everyday living tasks. The goal is to maximize potential. Through these therapeutic tactics, occupational therapy aids folks design their lives, develop needed skills, adjust their environments (e,g., home, school, or work) and build health-promoting habits and regimes that will let them to flourish.
By taking the full picture into account—a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup as well as their environment—occupational therapy assists clients to do the following:
• Achieve goals
• Perform at the best level
• Emphasis on what matters most to them
• Maintain or rebuild their self-sufficiency
• Participate in daily interests that they need or want to do.
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org.
Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Oswego.
