Occupational Therapy

From Nursing Career

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists says that Occupational Therapy (OT) is a profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation.

Occupational therapists use meaningful activity as a therapeutic medium, in order to enable people to reach their maximum potential with carrying out activities of daily living.

The College of Occupational Therapists offers several definitions of occupational therapy. One of the definitions aimed at the general public is:

"Occupational therapy helps people of all ages to lead healthy and fulfilling lives by improving their ability to carry out daily activities."

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists offers this definition:

"Occupational therapy is a profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by enabling people to do things that will enhance their ability to participate or by modifying their environment to better support participation.

Occupational therapists have a broad education that equips them with skills and knowledge to work collaboratively with individuals or groups of people who have an impairment of body structure or function due to a health condition, and who have experienced barriers to participation.

Occupational therapists believe that participation can be supported or restricted by physical, social, attitudinal and legislative environments. Therefore, occupational therapy practice may be directed to changing aspects of the environment to enhance participation.

Occupational therapy is practised in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, health centres, homes, workplaces, schools, reform institutions and housing for seniors. Clients are actively involved in the therapeutic process, and the outcomes of occupational therapy are diverse, client driven and measured in terms of participation or satisfaction derived from participation."

The College of Occupational Therapists has defined occupation in the following way:

"An occupation is an activity or group of activities that engages a person in everyday life, has personal meaning and provides structure to time. Occupations are seen by the individual as part of her/his identity and may be categorised as self-care, productivity and/or leisure."

Occupational therapists work in a number of health, social care and educational environments, with people with mental health problems, acute illness, long term disability, developmental problems, or who have learning disabilities.