OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapists are specialists in dealing with the consequences of disability.

Put simply: Physiotherapists rehabilitate, and their field of action is re-education.

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Occupational therapists, on the other hand, rehabilitate, and their field of expertise is rehabilitation.

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Disability concerns us all: after a simple sprain, we have to get around on crutches in a difficult environment (sidewalks, traffic, stairs, rollerblades, bicycles, scooters).

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Following a serious pathology such as hemiplegia, or simply because of age, we may find it difficult to carry out everyday activities with the same speed and efficiency.

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The above-mentioned cases are handicaps, but what differentiates them is the duration and origin of the handicap.

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Occupational therapists work in hospitals, especially to treat long-term disabilities.

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In the practice, the Occupational Therapist is a key player in the overall management of disability: he/she rehabilitates impaired functions, recommends or manufactures adapted equipment, and advises on technical aids.

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Occupational therapists also work in the home, and can advise on temporary or permanent adaptations that will be essential after a disability (or because of age) to preserve autonomy.

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Occupational therapists carry out assessments prior to home improvements for their patients.

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Maintaining the autonomy at home of disabled, sick and/or elderly people is a real public health issue and it is the daily life of the Occupational Therapist.