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What do you think of when you hear the term “occupational therapy” (or OT)? When someone sustains a serious injury to their knee, a surgeon will operate on the knee. A physical therapist will devise a series of exercises to help the knee heal properly with a maximum range of motion. An occupational therapist will ask, “What do you need your knee to do? What activities do you want to do?” They will help you adapt to your knee so that you can continue doing the things you want and need to do. The occupational therapist will determine the right treatment for keeping you mobile and an active participant in your own life. But this kind of therapy is not just for older adults or accident victims. My son Luke, nearly two years old, benefits from occupational therapy. Anyone who, for whatever reason, can't do the things in life they want or need to do may benefit from occupational therapy.

April is Occupational Therapy month, so we are taking the opportunity to shine the spotlight on this field, and become better acquainted with the benefits it can offer. O.T practitioners are skilled professionals. Their education includes the study of human growth and development, with specific emphasis on the social, emotional, and physical effects of illness and injury. They help those with illnesses, injuries, and certain conditions or disabilities get on with their “occupations" of living.

What sets an O.T. apart is that they look at the whole picture when it comes to a person’s treatment. They consider the individual’s abilities, the tasks to be performed, and the environment in which the task takes place. You may be surprised by the wide range of conditions that may benefit from occupational therapy. Among them are: Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, spinal cord injury, autism, hip fracture or replacement, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and low vision. Due to the vast range of conditions that are treated and ages of the patients, O.T. services are delivered in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, and mental health clinics.

Of course Generation Solutions Home Health division provides O.T. If you or someone you know would like to discuss O.T., simply call 434-846-3300. In addition, Generation Solutions Home Medical Equipment division carries the products you need to help you get on with your occupation of living. From power chairs, to oxygen supplies, to useful daily living tools like “The Reacher”, it’s all about remaining an active participant in your own life.