After any type of illness, injury, or surgery, you or your loved one might find it difficult to easily perform the same tasks as you did in the past. Common activities like dressing, bathing/showering, and grooming can be much more difficult during recovery.
While it can be frustrating, this situation is often temporary. Occupational therapy can help patients regain their independence with normal daily functions.
In this guide, learn how the Occupational Therapists at North Royalton Post Acute help our residents restore their independence utilizing different types of occupational therapy treatments
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy for adults is a rehabilitation specialty designed to help patients restore, improve, or develop daily living skills. These skills can include tasks like preparing meals, personal grooming, doing laundry or managing medication.
The goal is to ensure that the patient can continue to care for themselves once released from hospital or a rehabilitation facility. Occupational therapy treatment plans typically include a range of exercises, assistive equipment, and education.
What Are the Benefits of Occupational Therapy?
The main goal of occupational therapy is to help patients achieve greater independence in performing functional daily activities and reach their highest practical level of self-care.
Each of our rehabilitation plans will be focused on the patients’ specific needs. We will also continually track progress and update goals as needed.
There are, however, several different types of occupational therapy. Our team breaks those down to better help you understand which one might be right for you or your loved one.
Geriatric Occupational Therapy
As you or your loved ones get older, most people want to stay active. But as we age, limitations may arise. Patients may experience falls or issues with walking. Or they may take longer to recover from illnesses.
Geriatric occupational therapists will work with a care team to help patients remain independent. Treatment plans could involve relearning daily living skills, learning how to use assistive devices, recommendations for home modifications, and cognitive rehabilitation.
Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy
After a major surgery, illness, or accident, patients may be ordered by a doctor to do physical rehabilitation occupational therapy. While many people can return to their normal day-to-day activities, others may need to adapt.
They may need to relearn how to walk, dress, and live with assistive equipment. Types of physical rehabilitation occupational therapy include:
Activities of Daily Living Training
Patients will learn or relearn how to bathe, dress, groom, go to the bathroom, handle personal hygiene, and eat.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
The goal of this type of occupational therapy is to help a patient regain independence in their own space. It will incorporate meal preparation, cleaning house, doing laundry, managing medication, and more.
Functional Mobility Training
This training teaches you or your loved one how to safely do everyday tasks. These include getting in and out of bed, rising from a toilet or chair, walking, climbing stairs, and bending.
Cognitive Rehabilitation
After a neurological condition like a brain injury or stroke, patients may need help with memory, attention, problem-solving, and safety awareness.
Balance Training
This type of occupational therapy helps patients with stability and walking. It may include training on how to move safely and prevent falls.
Our rehabilitation team will create a personalized plan for you. We will consider what type of physical rehabilitation is required to regain your confidence.
Other Types of Occupational Therapy
Other types of occupational therapy include mental health occupational therapy. This type of therapy helps the patient with emotional and mental health issues like depression and panic attacks.
Neurological occupational therapy focuses on the connection between the brain and body movements. This treatment is designed to help people recovering from strokes, brain and spinal injuries, and neurological disorders.
Our Personalized Rehabilitation Plans for Every Patient
At North Royalton Post Acute, we provide a home-like environment, allowing you to safely and comfortably perform your occupational therapy training. Whether you need to relearn how to walk comfortably or speak easily, our team is ready to help you return to the highest level of functioning possible.