- I can’t take a shower or brush my teeth by myself.
- I have to get back to work and support my family.
- Who is going to clean the house?
Returning to activities you need and want to do is an important part of recovering and gaining independence. Occupational therapists (OTs) help in this process, focusing on activities of daily living, such as grooming, eating and homemaking. They also help with training and mastering the techniques of adaptive equipment needed for these skills.
OTs often specialize in specific areas. Hand therapists, for example, have advanced training in the intricate anatomy of the human hand to help people maximize function after injury or surgery. Other OTs specialize in low vision therapy, which focuses on optimizing the home environment and household/work tasks to make the best use of vision that is limited as a result of a stroke, diabetes, glaucoma, or other conditions. Still other OTs concentrate their practice in certain settings, such as acute care hospitals, inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation settings, schools, or others.
Sheltering Arms thanks all of our hard-working occupational therapists for the difference they make for patients every day. Happy Occupational Therapy Month!