Occupational Therapy

EXPOUNDING ON OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY  

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists defines Occupational Therapy as the assessment and treatment through the specific use of selected activity. This is designed by the Occupational Therapists and undertaken by those who are temporarily or permanently disabled by physical or mental illness, by social or developmental problems. 

The purpose is to prevent disability, improve health and to fulfill the person’s needs by achieving optimum function and independence in work, social and domestic environments. Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession that helps people of all ages to participate more fully in their day-to-day lives.

Apart from working with people who have physical disabilities, Occupational Therapists also work with individuals who have mental and emotional problems which interfere with their lives. Occupational Therapists use goal-directed activities that are purposeful and meaningful to the person to help that person develop or regain skills necessary for play, work and self/home care. Their aim is to enable people achieve as much as they can for themselves, so that they can get the most out of life.

In Psychiatric Occupational Therapy, the patient is encouraged to develop those aptitudes and attitudes which will enable him to live a full, useful and satisfying a life as possible. If he is to become a competent member of his community, in or out of hospital, his previous history and present illness must be considered in relation to his personality, intelligence, and social and economic background. 

Scientific means of assessment and valuation, but should never obscure the fact that patients are people, with the common basic needs for security, adventure, recognition and response. By creating as normal an environment as possible in Occupational Therapy, patients are better prepared to return to the demands of life outside hospital.

In considering the application of Occupational Therapy for psychiatric conditions, the Occupational Therapist needs to be familiar with the surgical and other treatments given to patients individually and be aware of the contribution her specialty has to make in maintaining and mobilizing improvements gained through them. The aims of treatment for each patient is discussed by the rehabilitation team.

In Occupational Therapy, the aims of treatment are discussed by the rehabilitation team, and a broad aim is defined for each patient. This may vary from rehabilitation for return to home and former work, or to home and a lighter job, or attendance at a day centre to living within the hospital either in a utility department or sheltered industrial unit, or to total care in a psychogeriatric unit. More immediate aims may then be defined which may change from week to week as for example, in helping a patient to overcome a particular anxiety at work or to deal with a difficult working relationship with another patient. Aims of treatment may also be related to a specific activity designed to evoke a particular response at a certain stage of treatment as, for instance, in a painting group, help to promote discussion. With increased specialization and grouping of patients with similar problems, and graded schemes for long-stay patients, the aims of treatment will be closely related to the type of group formed.

In Occupational Therapy the relationship formed between patient and therapist is of the utmost importance, the activity being only the medium of contact used to establish a therapeutic relationship.