Occupational Therapy in Home Care

When we recover from an injury, surgery or illness, we often need treatments like medication or physical therapy to heal and regain our strength and function. It is also important for us to learn how to adapt to completing our everyday tasks, like grooming and cooking, in a way that matches our abilities. Seemingly simple tasks like buttoning pants or getting up from a chair can be challenging through the recovery or aging process. Occupational therapy can help with that.

In home care, occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) assess and treat patients in their home setting to help them improve their capacity to complete daily activities independently and safely.

Occupational therapists develop individual care plans for each patient based on their goals. Their treatments may include (but are not limited to):

• Using techniques and exercises to improve fine motor skills
• Recommending assistive devices, such as a shower chair to make bathing easier
• Teaching new ways to complete activities
• Assessing home safety to help prevent accidents like trips and falls
• Engaging the patient in puzzles and games to enhance memory
• Guiding activities that help improve visual awareness and perception, and suggesting things like large print labels on medication or increased hallway lighting to help with low vision
• Educating caregivers on how to assist their loved one
• Helping patients navigate the transition to a new “normal” or way of living their day-to-day life

Occupational therapy is an important part of many patients’ plans of care. It helps them stay safe, allows them to maintain a level of independence in their home setting, and it instills confidence that they can still live fulfilling lives despite changes to their body or mind.

Elara Caring is proud to have a team of OTs and OTAs who make a difference in their patients’ lives each day. If you think your loved would benefit from occupational therapy, contact us for more information.