Some conditions and procedures can seriously restrict your range of motion and your physical capabilities. They might render you unable to walk, perform daily living skills, or fix your own meals in the evening. Time simply won’t be enough to restore this motion back to your body. Instead, your doctor is likely to recommend occupational therapy to help rehabilitate you to your former self.
This is going to be a process, but there are a few things you should keep in mind about this rehabilitative option. When your doctor recommends occupational therapy, you need to start planning ahead for these things.
What is occupational therapy?
Understanding the primary goal of occupational therapy can help you feel more comfortable with this option. The therapists you see will help you to regain the function to perform the activities that you want to do. They are more interested in finding out what matters to you than they are in correcting whatever physical ailment you have. You should expect a pretty thorough evaluation to properly identify your goals and come up with strategies to achieve them.
After an individual evaluation, a therapist may also wish to complete a more comprehensive version that takes a closer look at your home. They may suggest installing adaptive equipment and educating you on how to use it. For example, they may assist you in learning to use a wheelchair or a walker. Some companies prefer to educate friends and family members that will be assisting with your daily care as well.
How does this keep you at home longer?
Occupational therapists strive to keep you at home for as long as possible. Their skills and tools can help assist you with the daily activities you need to complete to take care of yourself. If you are still able to work sometimes, they can even help you to adapt your work responsibilities in a safer manner. With the necessary adjustments and the training on how to use them successfully, you should be able to live a normal life at home. Because you will be performing these activities in a safer manner, there is also a reduced risk of hospitalization or further complications.
Will I need at-home care too?
Some people find that they will also need the assistance of an at-home caregiver to help when the occupational therapist isn’t around. You might be working toward the goal of relearning how to perform necessary tasks on your own but it takes time. Be graceful with yourself and ensure that you put all the necessary services in place to make yourself comfortable and safe. Otherwise, you might risk further injuring yourself or placing yourself in a position to need hospitalization.
At Partners for Home, we understand just how important it is for you and your loved ones to stay home for as long as possible. That’s why we offer the trustful home care services that can give you the appropriate level of help. Give us a call today to see how we can help you through the rehabilitation associated with intensive occupational therapy!
