Occupational Therapy

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Occupational Therapy

• Angela R Houchins, MOTR/L
• Lauren Geier, Student OTA

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What is Occupational Therapy

• Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that
  helps people become successful in their everyday
  occupations. Often independence is the goal and
  can be achieved through
• Skilled treatment in rehabilitating lost motor
  or cognitive function
• Adaptive equipment
• Home modifications
• Client and caregiver guidance

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Occupational Therapists

• OTs help people improve their ability to perform
  tasks in their daily living and working
  environments. They work with individuals who
  have conditions that are mentally, physically,
  developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They
  assist patients in performing activities of all
  types, ranging from using a computer to dressing,
  cooking, and eating

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What is Occupation

• Occupations are the ordinary and familiar things
  that people do every day (AOTA, 1995, p. 1015)
  and consist of many dimensions, including
• Performance
• Context
• Temporal
• Psychological
• Social and symbolic
• Spiritual
• The main categories of occupation include work,
  self-care, play, and leisure.

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Occupations-ADL

• ADL
• ADL stands for Activities of Daily Living
• These can include bathing, dressing, grooming,
  handwriting and other activities that are basic
  to our daily lives
• We assist individuals in improving function
  through participation in ADL. We may suggest
  adaptive equipment, provide verbal cues for
  sequencing, work on problem solving, and assess
  an individuals ability to perform ADL safely

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Occupations-IADL

• IADL
• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
• These are more complex activities that we
  routinely do to take care of ourselves and others
  and contribute to society
• These may include money management, community
  mobility, child rearing, and meal preparation,
  work related activities

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Interdisciplinary Team

• Collaborate with physical therapy, speech
  therapy, nursing, medicine, social work
• Be a team player!
• Work closely with team members and sometimes
  overlap

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Interdisciplinary Team

• Team approach offers patient best care
• Assessments from a variety of perspectives
• Each brings different insights
• OT helps patients find meaning and purpose
• Use abilities to participate in occupations
• Maximize treatment and outcomes
• Communication is key!
• Advocate for the patient

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Where OTs Work

• In these areas- Physical Rehabilitation-
  Mental Health Services- Learning Disability-
  Pediatrics- Environmental Adaptation- Care
  Management- Equipment for Daily Living-
  Research
  
  
  
• In these places- Community centers- Education
  establishments- Hospitals- Home Health-
  Industrial and Commercial organizations
• - Residential and Nursing homes- Social
  Services - Schools- Charities and Voluntary
  agencies

Older Adults
Rehabilitation
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Common Diagnoses

• Neurological Disorders
• Stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Parkinsons Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Alzheimers Disease
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Back Pain
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Common Diagnoses

• Mental Health
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Developmental Disabilities
• Cerebral Palsy
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Developmental Delays
• Learning Disabilities

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Common Diagnoses

• Other Common Diagnoses
• Amputations
• Hand Injuries
• Arthritis
• Low Vision
• Musculoskeletal Trauma
• Sensory Dysfunction
• Chronic Pain
• Lymphedema
• Burns

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Benefits to the Patient

• Adaptation to environment
• Restoration of function
• Ability to participate more fully in occupations
• Faster recovery
• Improved quality of life
• Prevention
• Unnecessary hospital stays
• Work-related injuries

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Training to Become an OT

• Masters degree required from accredited program.
• Pass national certification exam.
• Coursework emphasis on biology, chemistry,
  physics, social sciences.
• Program admissions offices like to see volunteer
  experience in health field and observation
  experiences.

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Average Earnings

• Median annual earnings of OTs were 60,470 in
  2006. The middle 50 earned between 50,450 and
  73,710.
• Home health typically pays highest with nursing
  homes, doctor offices, and hospitals paying about
  the same.
• School Systems usually pay the lower rates,
  averaging 54,260.

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Occupational Therapy Assistants

• Also called COTAs (Certified Occupational Therapy
  Assistant).
• Work under the direction of an OT to provide
  treatment but cannot evaluate patients.
• An associate degree or a certificate from an
  accredited community college or technical school
  is generally required.
• In most states, must pass a national
  certification exam.

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Job Earnings

• Median annual earnings of COTAs were 42,060 in
  2006. The middle 50 earned between 34,130 and
  50,230.

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• Any job in healthcare is a rewarding career choice

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References

• Source of statistics and information U.S Dept
  of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
• American Occupational Therapy Association.
  (1995). Position Paper Occupation. American
  Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49, 10151018.