Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy can assist individuals with physical or mental health conditions that affect their daily functions or 'occupations.' These 'occupations' refer to the tasks that are significant in one's daily life. For instance, my important tasks include working, walking my dog, and caring for my pony. For others, it might mean being independent in meal preparation or personal care, without reliance on family or caregivers.
Here are some other examples of the types of occupations that we all need to be able to do in our daily lives.
Personal Care (washing and dressing yourself)
Domestic Tasks (cooking meals, light or heavy housework)
Leisure or Play Activities
Work (paid or unpaid)
Education
Occupational Therapy can support you in a variety of ways throughout your health journey.
I understand the importance of prompt and reliable care and will always strive to deliver this effectively.
I will always listen to you and work with you to find solutions to the things in life that are important to you, recognising that some areas of difficulties may be more challenging than others and different options can then be explored together.
If you feel you are beginning to struggle with daily living tasks, leisure activities or work, now is the time to seek support. With early intervention occupational therapy can often prevent a deterioration in your physical or mental health and give you tools and strategies to manage these for longer and more independently.
Please get in touch for advice if you feel you might benefit from an assessment
The following pages will give you an idea of specific areas of need you may currently be considering
Functional Rehabilitation
Following an assessment and where appropriate I will develop a rehabilitation plan in collaboration with you.
Functional Rehabilitation can mean two things :
All the Occupational Therapy rehabilitation I will support you with will be ' functional', this means it will always relate specifically to the tasks that are important to you but will be worked on in a way that is not boring or overwhelming, in fact most people don't even notice they are being rehabbed.
Occupational therapists also use the term Functional Rehabilitation to refer to returning you to the maximum level of function you need to achieve to carry out the tasks that are important to you.
I routinely carry out a full activity analysis and this can then be utilised to break down all of the tasks so we can both see where and how the functional tasks are being used and the benefits you may see from participating in this functional rehabilitation programme. Programmes are routinely reviewed to ensure we continue to work towards your goals as your function develops and improves.
Personal Care
Whether you are a young or an older person we can all have difficulties with personal care activities, especially if you are recovering from an illness, have a disability or a long term condition, even advancing age can present us with new challenges.
Occupational therapists are experts in helping people who have difficulties with every days tasks like taking a shower or a bath, dressing yourself, managing oral hygiene or even brushing your hair. Eating and drinking can also be affected if you have poor hand grip strength or co-ordination, tremors or poor range of movement.
I can help you work towards becoming independent in all of these tasks either through rehabilitation or through se of adaptive equipment which I can provide advice on and signpost you to companies who may provide bespoke equipment.
Personal Care (Activities of Daily Living)
Falls
Falls are an extremely common symptom in people who have a long term condition, disability and often as part of the ageing process.
Falls can result in serious injuries and it is therefore important that you keep as fit and healthy as possible and reduce your risk of falling.
I can give you advice on strengthening exercises, can work on improving your balance through a graded approach and teach you how to get back up from the floor. All of these strategies will improve your confidence and reduce potential for deconditioning and keep you independent.
I can also give you advice on monitoring kits or smart technology that may also give you or your family reassurance that should you fall, there is a system in place to keep you safe.
Getting Out & About
Our world can change very suddenly after illness and accessing the wider world when our mobility is affected can be challenging.
An Occupational Therapist can support you in finding solutions for ramps ( portable, temporary r permanent , depending on your house type). We can offer you advice on the right wheelchair for you, ensuring i will meet your needs and of course a carer if you need support when getting out and about.
We can also work with you at enabling independent use of your new wheelchair, building confidences or working out what an where you can access easily with your new chair.
Getting Out & About
Moving & Handling
As we move into more complex disability , long term conditions or for end of life care at home it is important to be able to care for our loved ones at home where they are most comfortable.
In order to achieve this we may need to use moving and handling equipment such as hoists, slings, slide sheets and other such equipment.
We can give you advice on the right equipment for care staff whether formal or informal and advise you on what equipment may be helpful
Moving and Handling
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