What is Occupational Therapy?

What is Occupational Therapy(OT)? I get this question a lot! My entire career as an OT has been working with the geriatric population in a hospital setting. As I enter the room, I introduce myself and then say, “I am an Occupational Therapist.” The most common response is, “I’m retired, I don’t need an occupational therapist!”

What most patients didn’t know is that they did need an occupational therapist, because they needed help taking care of themselves. OTs specialize in helping people do their everyday activities, which include eating, grooming, dressing, toileting, bathing, playing, working, driving, writing, etc. One thing that I noticed while working in a rehab setting is that the complications that come from chronic diseases makes it difficult to complete these everyday activities by yourself.

For example, Type 2 Diabetes wrecks havoc on several organs in the body. It causes poor circulation which can lead to peripheral (or diabetic) neuropathy, which is numbness and pain in the feet and hands. If the poor circulation is not addressed, then you run the risk of getting a sore or wound on your foot that will not heal. Eventually, because the poor circulation has still not been addressed, the wound can become infected and then you are looking at an amputation of your toe or foot.

I witnessed the above scenario multiple times and have helped many people learn how to get to the toilet, get in/out of a tub, and get dressed after they had their foot amputated. I had to help them discover a new routine and create new habits so they could safely take care of themselves as independently as possible.

But NOW, I want to help people address the problem before it becomes a BIG problem. I help people identify and confront the unhealthy habits in their daily routines that are causing the complications (such as a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition). I want to help people discover a new routine and create new habits so they can prevent the complications that make taking care of yourself very difficult. I want my clients to stay away from Dr’s offices and out of the hospital, and be living a vibrant and independent life as they age.