- Occupational therapists work with a variety of individuals and populations in a wide range of settings. There are six areas that are determined by the AOTA in the occupational therapy profession.
Children and Youth: The therapist focuses on infants, toddlers, children and their families. The occupational therapist can be found in schools, clinics as well as in the family’s home.
Health and Wellness: There has been an increase on the focus of wellness in the 21st century, and occupational therapists work directly with individuals, or the community in areas of wellness related to both physical and emotional well being.
Mental Health: One of the growing causes of disability as the World Health Organization has identified, is mental health. Treatment and prevention of mental health disorders will be emphasized for children, youth as well as adults.
Productive Aging: Our society is aging rapidly, due to increased longevity, the changing views of work, and baby boomers focus on their quality of life will emphasize the need for services in this area.
Rehabilitation, Disability and Participation: Rehabilitation is at the core of occupational therapy profession. Clinical practice will need to focus on the most current research and evidence to guide effective, goal orientated practice. The profession should continue to focus on resuming or engaging in activities that are meaningful to the client.
Occupational therapists help clients to perform all types of activities, from using a computer to caring for daily needs such as dressing, cooking, and eating. Physical exercises may be used to increase strength and dexterity, while other activities may be chosen to improve visual acuity or the ability to discern patterns. For example, a client with short-term memory loss might be encouraged to make lists to aid recall, and a person with coordination problems might be assigned exercises to improve hand-eye coordination. Occupational therapists also use computer programs to help clients improve decision-making, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, and perceptual skills, as well as memory, sequencing, and coordination—all of which are important for independent living.
Patients with permanent disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy, often need special instruction to master certain daily tasks. For these individuals, therapists demonstrate the use of adaptive equipment, including wheelchairs, orthoses, eating aids, and dressing aids. They also design or build special equipment needed at home or at work, including computer-aided adaptive equipment. They teach clients how to use the equipment to improve communication and control various situations in their environment.
Some occupational therapists treat individuals whose ability to function in a work environment has been impaired. These practitioners might arrange employment, evaluate the work space, plan work activities, and assess the client's progress. Therapists also may collaborate with the client and the employer to modify the work environment so that the client can succeed at work.Assessing and recording a client's activities and progress is an important part of an occupational therapist's job. Accurate records are essential for evaluating clients, for billing, and for reporting to physicians and other healthcare providers.
Occupational therapists also can advance by specializing in a clinical area and gaining expertise in treating a certain type of patient or ailment. Therapists may specialize in gerontology, mental health, pediatrics, and physical rehabilitation. In addition, some occupational therapists choose to teach classes in accredited occupational therapy educational programs.
No comments:
Post a Comment