Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy (OT) is defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) as the therapeutic treatment for people to develop, recover, or maintain their everyday skills. Occupational therapists often work with patients to help them regain their independence and self-esteem.

An occupational therapist treats the person as a whole and help the patient engage in daily life. Occupational therapists use a holistic approach to help the patient adapt to the environment. They help people learn how to adapt and perform any kind of task at home, school, work, or at any other place.

Occupational therapists can help a patient:

  • Bathe and get dressed

  • Eat without help from others

  • Do laundry on their own

  • Take part in leisure activities

  • Do office work

While occupational therapists assist with some part of the patient’s treatment plan, they do not create the therapy plan.

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Conditions That Can Be Treated With Occupational Therapy

  • Depression and Anxiety

  • Amputations

  • Arthritis
  • Burns
  • Brain Injury
  • Alzheimer’s and Dementia
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Dupuytren’s Contracture
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Motor Neuron Disease
  • Spinal Injury
  • Huntington’s Disease
  • Hip or Knee Replacements
  • Stroke

Benefits of Occupational Therapy

There are plenty of benefits of occupational therapy for the elderly. Some of them are:

Increased Movement Range

One of the most beneficial techniques used by occupational therapists is the range of motion exercises to help increase the patient’s range of motion while decreasing pain and stiffness. This is usually helpful for seniors who have stiff joints, worn out ligaments, or are suffering from arthritis.

Boosts Cognitive Skills

It is common for seniors to experience forgetfulness or dementia. This is one of the signs of aging. However, an occupational therapist can help the patient retain and sharpen his memory or cognitive skills at any stage of memory loss.

Cognitive exercises include reading books and solving crossword puzzles.

Improves Vision

While not all vision is irreparable, occupational therapists can help seniors bring back their lost vision. Similar to physical therapy, vision therapy use exercises for the eyes and brain to improve vision without the need for invasive surgeries.

Occupational therapists can also help aging adults living with eye conditions such as lazy eye, double vision, dizziness, balance, and reading problems. The therapists evaluate the patient to identify whether the damage is repairable or not before customizing the treatment according to the patient’s needs.

Keep Arthritis at Bay

Occupational therapists can help aging adults to tackle arthritis and live their best life without pain or stiffness in the body.

Arthritis is defined as joint inflammation. An occupational therapist will determine the type of arthritis before taking relevant action. Arthritis patients often feel pain when moving their hands, feet, or legs. The therapist will help the patient use their hands comfortably allowing them to perform heavier jobs with ease.

Help Coping With Chronic Pain

Chronic pain may be caused due to several factors with aging being the most common of them. As a person grows old, his bones and joints may start aching. Other causes of chronic pain include but not limited to traumatic injuries, nerve damage, old injuries that failed to heal properly.

Occupational therapists help reduce muscle tension, improve communication skills training and use proactive techniques to control pain.