Who Should Consider Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that focuses on helping individuals with physical, cognitive, and mental impairments acquire or regain the skills they need to lead independent lives.

Occupational therapists essentially create tailored programs— integrating activities, exercises, and other forms of therapeutic tools— to enhance patients’ ability to carry out activities of daily living, participate in social situations, and engage in many other occupations that bring meaning and purpose to their lives.

Read on to gain a better insight into occupational therapy, particularly the groups of people who might need or benefit from it.

Who Can Benefit from Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy can be of benefit to people of all ages who are experiencing physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental health challenges:

• Children with physical and developmental disabilities– Occupational therapists can help children with special needs learn important life-long skills. For instance, they evaluate children with severe developmental delays to determine their specific deficits and equip them to carry out basic day-to-day tasks, such as bathing, feeding themselves, brushing their teeth, and tying their shoelaces. Occupational therapists also help improve their sensory processing, play, and communication skills.
• Seniors – Occupational therapists are also trained to provide support for people who are experiencing problems with their memory, range of motion, dexterity, and basic motor skills due to old age or medical conditions associated with it. They help the elderly carry out specific functional activities that are highly essential to their lifestyles and to maintaining or restoring their dignity.
• Adults with disabilities or who are recovering from surgery, illnesses, and injuries- Occupational therapists employ a combination of physical and mental exercises to help adults with physical disabilities perform activities of daily living with ease. OTs also help patients choose and teach them to safely use assistive devices, such as wheelchairs.

OTs work alongside PTs to help patients recovering from injuries, illnesses (e.g., stroke), and surgery safely and quickly regain their mobility and overall function, and return to their normal day-to-day activities.

Occupational therapists have another integral role to play, and that is in helping families and caregivers find balance, and ultimately avoid confusion, stress, and burnout. The assistance and support occupational therapists render help bring empowerment and sense of normalcy to situations that are often very distressing to families and caregivers.

Occupational Therapy Services in Wooster, Ohio

If you or a loved one is considering occupational therapy, contact our friendly staff here at Wooster Community Hospital. At our HealthPoint facility, we offer outstanding outpatient rehabilitation services through which our highly qualified occupational therapists have helped countless people with all sorts of impairments live well and thrive.

To find out more about our occupation therapy services or to arrange an appointment, contact us at (330) 202-3300.