86°F
weather icon Clear

Occupational therapy helps people stay active, independent

Occupational therapy, which is being highlighted and celebrated this month, plays a vital role in providing services to residents in assisted-living facilities and nursing homes and is fast becoming a sought-after valuable service for those individuals choosing to age in place and maintain their independence. But occupational therapists work with people of all ages in a variety of settings including home, school and work.

Occupational therapists often ask patients, “what matters to you?” as opposed to “what’s the matter with you?” This approach signifies their holistic commitment to helping patients develop, recover and improve skills to manage their daily living and working tasks, safely and effectively.

These trained therapists help patients learn new ways of doing things, regain skills and adapt to their environment. The need for therapy may be the result of disease, disability or a limitation brought about by stroke, injury, surgery or other situation. Occupational therapy helps improve one’s skills needed for daily living, working and their ability to function in leisure and social activities, transportation and more.

According to the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, occupational therapists work with people of all ages from infants to seniors in a variety of settings. In classrooms they can help children develop skills such as handwriting or computer use. They work with patients admitted to the hospital following a stroke or brain injury as well as clients with mental illness in outpatient programs.

They can assist with identifying equipment such as wheelchairs or bathroom safety devices, to ensure clients can safely return to or remain at home when their physical abilities have changed.

Additionally, occupational therapists work with those after a workplace or motor vehicle injury and in work places, helping their clients adapt to how they do their job, what type of job they do or making changes to the workplace environment.

Applying the most up-to-date research and service delivery, occupational therapy is an evidence-based, science-driven profession focusing on the total well-being of the client and improving client outcomes.

To Your Health is provided by the staff of Boulder City Hospital. For more information, call 702-293-4111, ext. 576, or visit bchcares.org.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Council confusion: The leash law saga continues

Three statements — notably, none of them from members of the city council — best illustrated the difficulties residents (both dog-loving and not) have had for at least four years when it comes to the issue of off-leash dogs in public parks.

Breeding in BC? Probably not

Unlike the discussion later in the meeting Tuesday night in which the city council appeared determined to make sure no one was angry at them about the issue of off-leash dogs, they directed staff to take very strong action on the issue of pet breeding.

Lifejacket donations aim to save lives

Greg Bell’s memory lives on by way of a generous donation that may saves lives.

Huge crowd turns out to honor Patton

It was brought up during Saturday’s unveiling of the Shane Patton Memorial Monument as to why Shane’s statue stands 11 feet tall.

Disaster in China affects Damboree fireworks show

As the city prepares for Damboree, one of our biggest celebrations of the year, a tragedy in China is having an impact on the annual fireworks show.

City Celebrates First Responders

Photos courtesy City of Boulder City

Toll Brothers gets split decision

The development of the area near Boulder Creek Golf Course known as Tract 350 (the sale of which is slated to pay for the majority of the planned replacement for the aging municipal pool) may have hit a snag last week as the planning commission voted 5-1 to deny the developers’ request to build houses closer to the street than is allowed under current law.