Occupational Therapy is important for individuals of all ages. April is occupational therapy month, so it is a great time to celebrate the value of occupational therapy! Occupational therapists use a holistic approach to help individuals complete activities, known as occupations, that are meaningful and important to them. Occupational therapists strive to understand what is essential for each individual. This allows them to personalize treatments and help each person achieve a greater level of independence and function.
What is an occupation?
An occupation is an everyday life activity that people engage and participate in. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) lists the following occupations:
Activities of daily living (ADLs):
- feeding
- eating
- grooming
- bathing
- showering
- toileting
- dressing
- personal device care
- functional mobility
- sexual activity
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
- care of others
- care of pets
- child rearing
- communication management
- driving and community mobility
- financial management
- health management and maintenance
- home establishment and management
- meal preparation and clean up
- religious and spiritual activities and expression
- safety and emergency maintenance
- shopping
- Activities focusing on rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation
Who can benefit from occupational therapy?
Occupational therapists work with individuals across the entire lifespan from birth to end of life. Occupational therapists can help a wide range of people, and they have a role in various settings (hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, homes, schools, community, & many more).
At Sage Outpatient, we mainly focus on helping teenagers and adults with neurologic disorders. Occupational therapy allows them to improve their quality of life and increase their independence. A few of the diagnoses typically seen at this facility are stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, and other various neurological and orthopedic conditions.
Which specialty occupational therapy programs does Sage offer?
LSVT-Big Program: Occupational therapists lead an evidence-based 4-week treatment protocol to help individuals with Parkinson’s & other neurological conditions improve their ability to participate in activities with an emphasis on the size of movements and amount of effort required for movements. Sage also offers an LSVT Wellness program to help continue progress and prevent functional declines.
Vision Program: Occupational therapists are trained to assess and address how vision impacts participation in everyday activities. OTs work to enhance visual functioning to help an individual’s visual system run more efficiently and automatically through environmental modifications, adaptive strategies, and assistive devices. The Bioness Integrated Therapy System (BITS) is a device that is designed to challenge physical and cognitive abilities while measuring progress toward recovery.
Driving Program: Occupational therapists understand how progressive conditions, neurological deficits, and life events can impact the ability to safely drive. OTs perform assessments in the clinic to determine how an individual’s visual, cognitive, and motor skills affect driving. Upon completion of these assessments, an on-the-road driving evaluation can be performed with an occupational therapist and a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS).
What is the next step for me to get occupational therapy?
Choosing the right occupational therapist that specializes in your needs is an important step to recovery. Occupational therapists are extensively trained to understand how client factors, performance skills, performance patterns, contexts, and environments impact the ability to participate in occupations. This means we are experts in considering every detail of your condition and life to promote the greatest amount of meaningful recovery. Occupational therapists collaborate with each individual so they can create personalized intervention plans to help achieve meaningful goals and promote improved health, wellness, and quality of life!
All of the treatment teams at Sage Outpatient work together so they can provide optimal patient care. Physical, occupational, and speech therapist and licensed clinical social worker are available for an interdisciplinary approach to quality care. To schedule an appointment, please call 225-906-4097.
*Information adapted from the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework
