Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on "skills for the job of living." OT works with patients helping to ensure that they are at their optimal functioning capacity before they return home. Occupational Therapy helps people regain and build skills that are important for health, well-being, security, and happiness.
With inpatients, focus is on daily living and independent living skills to enable the patient to return home (or to another appropriate place) with the least amount of assistance from others as possible. Some of these skills include the ability to communicate needs, roll in bed, come to a sitting position, sit unsupported, transfer from a bed to a wheelchair, feed oneself, brush teeth, wash face and hands, comb/brush hair, shave/put on make-up, dress oneself, transfer to the toilet, shower/bathtub, bathe self, prepare meals, complete household tasks, and maneuver through home in wheelchair or walker.
With outpatients, Occupational Therapists work on the same skills, but more typically with deficits of the upper extremity. They evaluate the individual's motions about the joints of the arm, muscle strength, sensation, coordination, and ability to complete living skills (work, community mobility, leisure, meal preparation, etc.). After the evaluation is completed, OT's provide individualized treatment to rehabilitate the person to enable them to complete the daily living skills needed for them to function and lead fulfilling, independent, satisfying lives.
Occupational Therapy is located at Health Trax, 953 Hopley Avenue.
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