Occupational therapy is a vital service, but many people have no idea what work falls to an occupational therapist. In Englewood NJ, occupational therapists handle a number of different tasks, but the most important task is simple: helping people to do what they want to do. Read on to find out some lesser-known things that OT professionals can help with!
Leisure Activities
Occupational therapy is not just for “important” activities that everyone agrees upon. Certainly, your occupational therapist in NJ can help you to stay safe, bathe independently, and so on, but did you know that they can also help with your favorite leisure activities? Find a way to hold that heavy book so you can read it, to adjust the music volume when it becomes too loud, or to garden despite difficulties bending. Whatever you love and don’t want to lose, and occupational therapists can help you do better.
Planning and Organizing
Unlike physical therapists, who often deal most with movement issues, an occupational therapist also helps you to get things done. Whether you need help planning your grocery budget, developing a system to check the mail, or getting your tasks structured so you can actually accomplish them. For adults with mental illness or dementia, these services can be the difference between independent and assistive living.
Seeing Better at Home
Keep in mind, an OT professional can’t fix your vision—you would need to see an eye doctor for that. But when you work with an occupational therapist in Englewood NJ, you can learn tools to address the lighting in your home, improve your ability to see outdoors on your property, and store flashlights or magnifiers to places where you can use them easily. By changing your everyday routines, OT professionals can help you to see a little more clearly.
Support for Caregivers
If you are a caregiver of someone who is aging, or who has significant physical or mental health needs, you may find yourself wondering how to cope, and how to deal with your person the best way. While caregiver support groups are good, sometimes you need expert help from an occupational therapist. In Englewood NJ, OT professionals regularly work with caregivers to coordinate care, ensure progress is being maintained, and to provide support for caregivers in all they do.
Occupational therapy services can be difficult to understand, but remember: the goal is to help you achieve your goals! If you or a loved one could benefit from occupational therapy in Englewood NJ, call a skilled provider like Home Rehab Consultants and get started on your best functioning today!