Treatments provided

Occupational Therapists use their assessment skills to work with people to identify the barriers to leading an ordinary life. An occupational therapy programme is then developed with clear goals that are specific to each individual and their carers. The aim is to reduce or remove the barriers to living a safe, independent and fulfilling ordinary life.

For example, if a person is unable to climb the stairs in their home to get to their bedroom, an occupational therapist will assess the person and the environment and look at the different options available to achieve the individual's goal of getting to their bedroom. These could include:·       

• a referral to health colleagues to investigate and treat the causes of the mobility problem that prevents the person climbing the stairs.
• a programme of reablement to improve mobility and confidence with stair climbing.
• installing stair rails to help safe stair climbing.
• installing a stair lift or through floor lift to remove the need to climb the stairs
• an alteration to the home to provide a downstairs bedroom
• rehousing to a suitable property without stairs.

One or more options may be selected to achieve the goal and this will depend on individual needs, preferences, NHS and Council criteria and the resources available.
 
Some other types of occupational therapy intervention:

• falls and accident prevention in the home
• rehabilitation and reablement to regain daily living skills
• disability housing assessment, advice and resettlement
• small and large alterations to the home to enable access to rooms, use of facilities and access in and out of the home.
• assistive technology and equipment for a person to manage an activity independently or to enable carers to continue to provide safe support to a person at home.
• help with returning to other activities such as work, leisure and education