How Occupational Therapy Can Help with Everyday Living

As we get older, we start to slow down — our reflexes aren’t as sharp, and we find ourselves with more aches and pains than ever before. That’s where occupational therapy can help!

Occupational therapists (OTs) can help older Adults regain their physical independence by providing support and guidance.

It can make a real difference with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding to help patients more efficiently with their daily living tasks.

Here’s everything you need to know about occupational therapy home and in the community, and how an occupational therapist in the community can help.

How Occupational Therapy can help in Everyday Life

Occupational therapy can be a great help to older people, people with mental health issues, or people with physical disabilities, by helping them carry out daily activities.

Occupational therapists can help with:

1. Simple Functional Assessments

A qualified OT can give you the skills you need to accomplish daily functional tasks without too much effort.

Under the guidance of your occupational therapist, you may work on improving specific areas, such as balance, vision, hearing and cognition. To improve your balance, for example, your OT may use an exercise bike or tape a target to the floor and ask you to guide yourself towards it.

2. Fitness Development

An occupational therapist may also work alongside a physical therapist, helping you improve your fitness.

They can recommend assistive technology to help you get back into your daily routine and reduce pain — like splints, canes, walking braces and wheelchairs.

3. Home Modifications

Occupational therapists are trained to make homes safer for seniors, and they offer some easy ways to help them do just that.

For example, they may identify that the stairs in your bathroom aren’t easy for someone to use with a walker; this will help prevent accidents and mishaps.

4. Community Access

When it comes to community access, most people don’t have to think twice about going outside. But for people with a disability, who may have to rely on someone else for help, it can be an entirely different story.

Occupational therapy can improve your confidence and help you get out and about in the community again.

5. Cognitive Ability

Occupational therapists can also help people with cognitive issues. They can devise a treatment plan to improve your memory.

They can also help you with common issues, like engaging you in regular brain activities or providing strategies to de-escalate tense situations in everyday life.

All About Occupational Therapists in the Community

Occupational therapists can help people progress and achieve aspirations and goals. They create solutions to help you and your needs, working within your environment to provide the best solutions.

They can also train you on how to use assistive technology, work with you on developing your skills, and help you live your best life.

FAQs

1. How can occupational therapy improve lives?

Occupational therapy can help build a person’s quality of life by overcoming everyday barriers. This can include helping people with learning, physical, cognitive and sensory difficulties.

Occupational therapists are highly trained professionals who use the latest research and assistive technology to help patients navigate everyday activities.

Better Rehab occupational therapy community service in Bankstown, Blacktown, Central Coast, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Macquarie Park, Maroubra, Penrith, Wollongong, Canberra, Gippsland, Greensborough, Moonee Ponds, Mornington, Mulgrave, Surrey Hills, Werribee, Chermside, Gold Coast, Ipswich, North Lakes, Springwood, Stones Corner, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Cockburn Central, Inglewood, Joondalup, Adelaide.

References:

National Disability Insurance Scheme
https://www.ndis.gov.au/