According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities, or occupations.

1. What Is Occupational Therapy?

2. Many of us have heard of physical therapy, massage therapy, even
psychotherapy. We have also heard of occupational therapy, but we
may not truly know what it means.

3. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association,
occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people
participate in the things they want and need to do through the
therapeutic use of everyday activities, or occupations.

4. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children
with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations,
helping people recovering from injury to regain skills and providing
support for seniors experiencing physical and cognitive changes. First,
an occupational therapist must evaluate the home to determine goals.
Here are three common services:

5. An individualized evaluation. This is an initial visit where the client or
family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals.
1.

6. Customized intervention. This improves the person’s ability to
perform daily activities and reach goals.
2.

7. Finally, an outcomes evaluation. This will ensure that goals are being
met and possible changes are being made to the intervention plan.
3.

8. Further services may include comprehensive evaluations of the client’s
home and other environments, such as work, school or even social
settings. Occupational therapists may give recommendations for
adaptive equipment and training in its use. Also, they can provide
guidance and education for family members and caregivers.

9. These therapists employ a holistic approach, which focuses on adapting
the environment to fit the person. They make the person an integral
part of the therapy team. Occupational therapy can be a great option
for seniors.

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