Occupational Therapy Recap

Occupational therapists support patients using tailored care plans that enable them to return to or optimise participation in all aspects of daily life including work, hobbies, socialising, and personal care. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages with a wide range of issues resulting from physical, mental, social or developmental difficulties. 

To find out more about what being an occupational therapist involves and hear from students and professionals  - head over to our exploring vocations page

What is an 'Occupation'?

'Occupation' means activity. These largely fit into one or more of the following categories: self-care, productivity and leisure. Engaging in a balance of these occupations is important to our health and wellbeing. Have a go at thinking of some examples of for each category - remember, there could be overlap between categories. 

Exploring Occupations: Examples

• 'Self-Care' Occupations

  Styling your hair, having a bath, making your own meals, meditation

• 'Productivity' Occupations

  studying, volunteering, household chores

• 'Leisure' Occupations

  Gaming, reading, sports

Think Like an Occupational Therapist

Part of being an occupational therapist is empathising with the huge impact it can have on someone’s life when they are no longer able to do something that’s important to them.

Let’s take an example from the leisure category:

How might having a stroke affect someone being able to go out for food with friends or family?

To think like an occupational therapist you will first need to consider the following symptons of a stroke:

• Physical: unable to use your left arm, fatigue
• Cognitive: reduced memory and concentration, difficulty reading and writing
• Social: difficulty speaking with muscle weakness in the left side of the face

Now try and identify something in each category that someone might struggle with when going out to a restaurant after a stroke

Think Like an Occupational Therapist: Our Thoughts

How do your ideas compare to some of the challenges and support that we identified? 

• Physical Challenges
  • Holding the menu
  • Using cutlery and eating food with dignity
  • Having enough energy to be there
  • Getting their card out of their wallet to pay
  • Using the toilet
  • Texting to arrange things
  • Putting a coat on
  • Tying shoelaces
• Cognitive Challenges
  • Reading or understanding the menu
  • Making decisions on food
  • Keeping up with the conversation
  • Navigating signs in the restaurant to the exit and toilet
• Social Challenges
  • Feeling different, embarrassed, looked at or left out
  • Holding conversations and remembering what was said
  • Communicating their order to the waiting staff
  • Anxiety about recovery and the future
• What Support Could Help?
  • Build confidence and skills in simpler situations first using the support of family and professionals.
  • Encourage the person to practice at home in daily situations and using appropriate assistive equipment like adapted cutlery, an adapted wallet or bag to reach their card easily. They could consider buying less noticeable items that don’t highlight disability as much.
  • They could socially start small, inviting close, understanding friends over for takeaway pizza which is easy to eat one handed without cutlery. Then increase the difficulty as recovery and confidence improves to more people and public spaces.
  • Prioritise and pace tasks during the day beforehand in a way that saves energy for this event.
  • They could choose restaurants where they know the menu well, or select what to eat using online menus before arriving. Perhaps asking a close friend to communicate this to the waiting staff