Transcript OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

What is the difference between occupational therapy
and physiotherapy?
• Physiotherapy is a health care profession directed at evaluating,
maintaining and restoring physical function (Canadian
Physiotherapy Association, 1999). Occupational therapy is a health
profession that looks at physical function too but in terms of how it
affects your ability to do the things that are important to you and
your occupations. Occupational therapists also have the knowledge
and training to work with people with a mental illness or emotional
problems such as depression and/or stress.
• Occupational therapists often work alongside physiotherapists, as
part of a team of health professionals. Just as physical therapists
use physical exercise and modalities to treat physical movement
dysfunction, occupational therapists use and adapt occupations to
treat or prevent occupational dysfunction due to physical, mental or
environmental factors.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational therapists believe that occupations describe
who you are and how you feel about yourself. If you are
unable to do the things you want, or need to do, to live and
to enjoy your life, then your general well-being may be
affected. Occupational therapists work with people of any
age to promote health, prevent disability, and develop or
maintain abilities. Occupational therapists have training and
knowledge in physical and psychosocial development and
disorders and therefore look at the whole person, not just
the physical aspects of the person’s problem. They also look
at these problems or risks in terms of how they affect
someone’s function. Occupational therapy benefits the
individual and those around them such as teachers,
employers, parents, spouses and other family members.
Tenets of O.T.
• Occupation refers to the activities and tasks of
daily life that have value and meaning to a
person. They incl.
• Productivity
• Leisure
• Self-care
Occupational Therapy values & beliefs
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About occupation
We believe that:
occupation gives meaning to life
occupation is an important determinant of health and well-being
occupation organizes behaviour
occupation develops and changes over a lifetime
occupation shapes and is shaped by environments
occupation has therapeutic effectiveness
About the person
We believe that:
humans are occupational beings
every person is unique
every person has intrinsic dignity and worth
every person can make choices about life
every person has some capacity for self-determination
every person has some ability to participate in occupations
every person has some potential to change
persons are social and spiritual beings
persons have diverse abilities for participating in occupations
persons shape and are shaped by their environment
About the environment
We believe that:
environment is a broad term including cultural, institutional, physical and social components
performance, organization, choice and satisfaction in occupations are determined by the relationship between persons and their environment
About health
We believe that:
health is more than the absence of disease
health is strongly influenced by having choice and control in everyday occupations
health has personal dimensions associated with spiritual meaning and life satisfaction in occupations and social dimensions associated with fairness and equal opportunity in occupations
About client-centred practice
We believe that:
clients have experience and knowledge about their occupations
clients are active partners in the occupational therapy process
risk-taking is necessary for positive change
client-centred practice in occupational therapy focuses on enabling occupation
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. (1997). Enabling Occupation: An Occupational Therapy Perspective. Ottawa, ON: CAOT Publications ACE.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
provides the skills for the job of living
solves the problems that interfere with peoples ability to do the activities or
occupations that are important to them or prevent a disruption in their
daily lives. These problems may be a result of injury, disease, social
disadvantage, or the environment.
the difference between life and living
client centred
learn new ways of doing things
Make adaptations to ensure performance
Modify environment
promotes independence
What does an OT look at?
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Occupational therapy works to break down the barriers which impede individuals
in their everyday activities. Occupational therapists examine not only the physical
effects of an injury or disease, but also address the psycho-social, community and
environmental factors that influence function.
To begin, an occupational therapist will try to find out why you cannot do what you
would like or need to do…
Depending on your situation, an occupational therapists may check:
what you can and cannot do physically (this includes your strength, coordination,
balance, or other physical abilities)
what you can and cannot do mentally (your memory, organization skills, coping
strategies, or other mental abilities)
what materials you use to participate in the occupation (for example, work tools,
furniture, cooking utensils, clothes, or other materials)
the social and emotional support available to you in your home, school, work and
community
the physical setup of your house, school, classroom, work place, community, or
other environment
How could an OT help you?
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1. Helping you overcome your disability
An occupational therapist may help you overcome your disability by:
A. Educating or instructing you on how to do things with the abilities you have
Some examples:
how to remember things when your memory is poor
how to dress or cook using one arm
how to manage your time and money
how to use public transit when you are having problems
how to get around in your community, while using a wheelchair
how to manage your stressors
how to advocate for an integrative community
B. Suggesting activities that will help you improve or maintain the abilities you have or are weak in.
Some examples:
improving your coping strategies
increasing your strength
increasing your confidence and belief in yourself
increasing your coordination
improving your concentration
minimizing or preventing deformity of your hands after an injury
How could an OT help you?
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2. Adapting the Materials You Use
The occupational therapist may adapt the materials you use in the occupations you want to do by making or recommending:
A. Changes in the things you use around the house
Some examples:
large push buttons on your telephone
can opener that can be used with only one hand
special key holder to make turning keys easier
B. Changes in the things you use in sports leisure, or recreation
Some examples:
a playing cards holder
a grasping cuff to help you hold a pool cue or a racquet
a knitting needle holder
wrist stabilizer
C. Changes in the things you use at work or school
Some examples:
a special chair to help you sit up straight
self-opening scissors
special hammers and other tools that are easier to use and prevent injury to hands and back
writing boards to help keep paper still
D. Changes in the things you use to take care of yourself
Some examples:
clothes with velcro ties
equipment that helps you put on your socks or stockings
built up handles on toothbrushes, forks, spoons, or knives to help you hold them
special bath or toilet seats
long handled and curved brushes for hair and bath
E. Changes in the things you use to get from place to place
Some examples:
recommend wheelchairs
special seating and positioning for chairs to help sit right
car modifications such as one-handed steering wheels or hand operated accelerators/brakes
bicycles/tricycles modifications such as foot straps for pedals or seat support
How could an OT help you?
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3. Recommending Changes to the Environments Where You Do Your Occupations
A. Recommending changes to the physical layout of your work place, home, or school
Some examples:
wheelchair ramps
widening doorways
lowering/raising desk tops, counter tops, or cupboards
reorganization of living space
B. Recommending and finding out about the support in your community
Some examples:
self-help groups
community recreational programs
specialized public transportation
funding agencies for transportation needs, special equipment such as wheelchairs, bath seats, or specialized
computer equipment
C. Working with the people in your community by
providing education about a disability to the family, teachers, parish members, employers, or employees
D. Working with the goverment to encourage people to stay healthy
Some examples:
request funding for special equipment
request funding for programs such as exercise programs for Seniors, or a work training program for people with
physical or mental disabilities
respond to legislation that may affect your health care
Give a man a fish and you feed
him for a day. Teach a man to
fish and you feed him for a
lifetime.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
UBC
• Bachelor’s degree in any field
• Minimum academic requirments
– B+ in 3rd & 4th yr courses
• Human anatomy (3rd level +)
• Social Sciences (eg sociology,
anthropology)
• Behavioral sciences (eg
psychology, etc)
• 700 hrs of volunteer or paid work
involving direct contact with
people with disabilities
• Interview
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U of A
Bachelor’s degree in any
field
3.0 GPA (~ B+)
Recommended course in
human anatomy or
physiology
Statistics
C.V. with references
Letter as to your knowledge
of O.T.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
U of T
• Bachelor’s degree with
minimum B+ in their final yr
• Recommended
anatomy/physiology, statistics
and psychology
• Statement explaining what
they would bring to the
profession, incl. references &
resume
• Recommended paid or
volunteer work that exposes
them to what an occupational
therapist does
UWO
• Bachelor’s degree with at
least B avg but generally B+
in last 10 courses
• Has a PhD program
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
McMaster
• Bachelor’s degree with at
least 76% avg in the last 2
yrs
• 2 academic references
• 2 clinical/work-related
references
Queen’s
• Bachelor’s degree with at
least B+ avg
• Statement of why you want
to become an O.T.
• 2 academic /professional
references-judging work
performance and
interpersonal
skillsStatement regarding
why you want to become an
O.T.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
U of Ottawa
• Bachelor’s degree with B+ avg
• Bilingual (fyi-info was written
in French)
• Human anatomy or physiology
• 2 courses in psychology
• Statistics
• Sociology
• Statement letter of your work
or volunteer experience in the
last 3 yrs prior to applying
• C.V. with academic references
McGill
• Bachelor’s degree with at
least 3.2 GPA
• Human anatomy and
physiology
• 50hrs of volunteer or paid
work where occupational
therapy is observed
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
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Dalhousie
Bachelor’s degree with at
least B-B+ in the last 2 yrs
2 courses in human
physiology
1 course in human anatomy
Statistics, sociology
2 academic references
Other universities offering OT
programs
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University of Manitoba
Universite de Montreal
Universite de Sherbrooke
Universite duQuebec aTroisRivieres
• Universite Laval
Professional Opportunities
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Private practice
Consultants – home modifications, assistive technology, ergonomics
Research
Retail – medical equipment
Schools
Long term care settings
Higher education programs
Hospitals – mental health, rehab, acute care
Outpatient clinics
• People to People Ambassadorship
• Travelling therapy
Case Examples
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Hip replacement
Back or neck surgery
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Rotator cuff tear or surgery
Trauma-multiple fractures
Pneumonia