What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy, often abbreviated as "OT”, is an applied science and health profession that provides skilled treatment to help individuals achieve and maintain independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational Therapy gives people the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives. Occupational therapy is concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by enabling people to do things that will enhance their ability to participate or by modifying the environment to better support participation. When permanent functional loss has occurred, occupational therapists can train the person to use specialized equipment and adaptive techniques to compensate for that the loss.  Occupational Therapists are licensed by their respective states and directed by a code of ethics. They are required to go through extensive education that may include a Masters level degree as well as pass a state and national board exam to ensure clinical expertise and ethical standards.

• If you have needs in the following areas, Occupational Therapy may be needed…

• Upper body strength and range of motion limitations
• Balance issues affecting safe performance of Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
• Decline in any ADL (ie: bathing, dressing, toileting, cooking, home management)
• Lack of coordination (gross or fine motor)
• Medical equipment or adaptive equipment needs to increase safety with transfers and ADLs, as well as wheelchair assessments for new wheelchair
• Energy conservation/ work simplification needs due to respiratory or cardiac issues, as well as breathing techniques
• Home safety/ home modifications needed to maximize safety in home
• History of falls
• Endurance training/ activity tolerance training for ADLs
• Visual perceptual issues, compensatory training needed and home modifications
• Upper extremity contracture management and splinting
• Caregiver training on any of the above areas to ensure best follow through