What is Occupational Therapy?

At Get Well Home Health, Inc. one of the many services we offer is occupational therapy. But what exactly is occupational therapy? The exact definition describes occupational therapy as “the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or occupations, of individuals, groups, or communities. It is an allied health profession performed by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.” If you’re still confused, don’t worry, we’re going to break it down a step further for you.

What exactly does an occupational therapist do for you?

Occupational therapists help people that are injured, ill, or disabled recover and improve through the use of everyday activities. Because of this, the amount of activities and exercises an occupational therapist can help with are endless. Some include:

• Stretching the joints for arthritis pain
• Yoga for balance, flexibility, and strength
• Origami paper folding for hand-eye coordination
• Drawing
• Card and board games

These are just some of the examples of what an occupational therapist can help you with.

What is the difference between occupational and physical therapy?

Occupational therapy takes a much more holistic approach to the body to improve daily living as opposed to physical therapy, which focuses on one specific area of the body. Occupational therapy also includes mental healthcare, not just physical rehabilitation.

What can I expect from a session?

The first session you have in occupational therapy will involve the therapist performing an evaluation to see what activities will benefit you most moving forward. You will also discuss goals that you wish to accomplish during your therapy.

After the initial visit, you will complete the activities you and your therapist agreed upon. Again, there is an expansive list of things you may be tasked with, but it is all beneficial for your daily quality of life. Typically, occupational therapy lasts 6–8 visits in order to give you the tools you need moving forward. If needed, however, it is possible to extend the number of visits.

If you or a loved one could benefit from occupational therapy, please reach out to Get Well Home Health, Inc. to see if we can help. You can reach us at (818) 627–7699 or by emailing us at teamgetwell@gmail.com.

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