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Did you know that April is Occupational Therapy Month?What
is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) is skilled rehabilitative treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Differing from physical therapy, OT primarily focuses upon activities of daily living (ADL), such as bathing, dressing and toileting, but also includes many other areas. OT gives people the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives. Occupational therapists have the science-based knowledge to understand progressive conditions and life changes that can affect ADL performance and other aspects of daily life. OT services typically include:
About Occupational Therapy PractitionersOccupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study of human growth and development with specific emphasis on the social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness and injury. The occupational therapist enters the field with a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree. The occupational therapy assistant generally earns an associate degree. Practitioners must complete supervised clinical internships in a variety of health care settings, and pass a national examination. Most states (including New York) also regulate and provide licensure for occupational therapy practice. Who
Benefits From Occupational Therapy?
A wide variety of people can benefit from OT, including those with:
In addition, occupational therapists trained in driver rehabilitation understand the critical demands of driving and how our ability to move about our community affects the quality of our lives. These occupational therapists have the skills to evaluate an individual's overall ability to operate a vehicle safely, and, where appropriate, to provide rehabilitation to strengthen skills used in driving. Because occupational therapists take the time to understand the role that driving plays in your life, they are able to help individuals make a smoother transition from driving to using other forms of transportation. In doing so, they help people maintain their autonomy, independence, and sense of worth. Glens Fall Hospital has the following programs involving OT: Inpatient Rehabilitation Program: This program is designed to maximize the independence of patients following an illness or injury that has resulted in impaired physical, communication or psychological abilities. The goal of the program is to return patients to their homes functioning at the highest possible level. Neurological Rehabilitation: This program provides coordinated occupational, physical, and speech therapy to assist patients recovering from strokes, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other neurological disorders gain functional independence. Lymphedema Therapy: This program helps to reduce arm and leg swelling in people experiencing lymph node impairments as a result of radiation therapy, surgery, or trauma. Occupational Therapy for Chronic Conditions: For patients with arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other chronic conditions, occupational therapists provide training in energy conservation and the use of assistive devices/techniques to help improve functioning in daily living tasks. Hand Rehabilitation: Therapists work with patients to restore and maximize hand function, and prevent avoidable hand injury such as repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. Pediatric Rehabilitation: Through affiliations with Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties and local school districts, therapists provide children experiencing developmental delays with comprehensive developmental assessments and necessary occupational therapy in the home or clinic setting. |
