Occupational therapy at home enables the return of function with respect to basic activities in the natural environment. The treatment sessions assist in return of function with respect to basic activities including eating, dressing, moving from place to place, washing as well as higher functions such as medication management, leisure and housekeeping. The purpose of the treatment sessions is to improve motoric, cognitive and social abilities. Home occupational therapy sessions are an inseparable part of every rehabilitative process and can even assist people who have undergone surgery, prolonged hospital admissions, functional deterioration or adults suffering from various diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
In what instances is a home occupational therapy service required?
- Following an orthopedic injury – following elective surgery, such as for a joint replacement, or after fractures of the lower limbs caused by a fall or an accident. Treatment to achieve maximum independence at home, in tandem with the other treatments given in the rehabilitative program.
- Following neurological damage/stroke/CVA or a head injury – to improve the motoric abilities, increase the range of movement, strength in the upper limbs to achieve maximum independence in basic day-to-day functioning such as with respect to eating, dressing, going to the toilet, washing etc.
- The elderly experiencing a functional deterioration due to illness or injury – to improve the functional ability of the individual and preserve his quality of life after an orthopedic or neurological injury, or a functional deterioration due to various illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s etc
- Adaptation of the home environment for rehabilitation – before orthopedic surgery such as: hip/knee replacement.
- Guidance regarding the home environment according to the patient’s condition