This essay will first introduce the history of the Occupational Therapy profession and the different theories that guide the practises of Occupational Therapists. The essay will then go onto explain certain terms used within the Occupational Therapy profession and how they relate to occupation, health and well-being; as well as the importance of occupation in the occupational therapy profession and how occupation relates to health and well-being. Townsend & Polatajko (2007) state that “Occupational therapy is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the daily occupations of life”. The Occupational therapy perspective has transformed historically overtime, evolving Occupation and the role it plays in people’s everyday lives. The occupational therapy profession was strongly influenced by the medical model involving close medical contributions. In the 1950’s the majority of Occupational Therapist worked for the National Health Service, working primarily in physical rehabilitation centres (Hagedorn 1995) seeing craft work as an integral part of Occupational Therapy as it was perceived as having therapeutic qualities (Hagedorn 1995). Between the 1960s -1980s craftwork was no longer valued as important and the philosophy of the occupational therapy shifted to biomechanical exercises that incorporated adapted equipment increasingly using sensory motor techniques (Hagedorn 1995) and then from the 1980’s Occupational Therapist began to focus more on the occupational needs and competencies of a person (Hagedorn 1995).... ... middle of paper ... ...ins, Reilly M (1962) Occupational therapy can be one of the great ideas of the twentieth century. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 16, pp. 300-308 Townsend, E. (ed.) (2002) Enabling occupation: an occupational therapy perspective. Ottawa: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. Townsend, E., & Wilcock, A. (2004) Occupational justice and client-centred practice: A dialogue-in-progress. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71, pp.75-87 Townsend, E.A. & Polatajko, H. J. (2007) Enabling Occupation II: Advancing an Occupational Therapy Vision for Health, Well-being & Justice through Occupation. Ottawa, ON: CAOT Publications ACE. Wilcock, A. (2006) An occupational perspective of health. 2nd ed. Thorofare: Slack. World Health Organization. (2013). Available from: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/ [Accessed
The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework defines an occupational profile as “the initial step in the evaluation process that provides an understanding of the client’s occupational history and experience, patterns of daily living, interests, values, and needs (2014).” During this process the client’s problems and concerns about daily occupations are identified then the client’s main concerns are determined (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). Occupational Therapists strive to be holistic and client-centered, and the occupational profile is one method to ensure treatment takes on these characteristics. During the occupational profile the clients share their priorities based on what is important to them, and the therapist
Though occupation usually refers to a job, a person’s occupation is initially determined by what their everyday life consists of. When a person becomes incapable of performing the tasks that they are expected to do in their everyday life due to developmental delays, physical injury, or psychological problems they are often referred to an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists, or OTs, usually have occupational therapy assistants, often called OTAs. The OT gives the OTA a set of objectives to help the patient achieve. Since people go through numerous occupations during the course of their lives, OT’s and OTA’s prov...
Sacket et al, cited in, Duncan, E,A,S, (2006) Foundtions for practice in Occupational Therapy, 4th edition, Elsevier Ltd.
For this assignment, the model being discussed is the Person-Environment-Occupation Performance (PEOP) model and how the beliefs and values of Occupational therapy (OT) are demonstrated. The fundamental belief on which OT is based is that patients can regain their health and function through participation in appropriately chosen activities. There are seven core values that are used as a moral guide by the qualified Occupational Therapists (OT’s).
Occupational Therapists perceive people, without discrimination, as active and creative “occupational beings” who crave engagement in activities of daily living, sequentially to maintain not merely their health but their wellbeing (COT, 2010). Occupation is a channel which directs people to better social inclusion, which in turn can result in dignity, independence, and social contribution (Waddell and Aylward, 2005) and one of the core foundations of Occupational Therapy is the necessity and value of occupations and re-engagement in occupation as an essential intervention (Ross, 2007a). Occupational Therapists who work with adults with different severities of learning disabilities experience difficulty with their everyday occupations, or activities of daily living (ADLs) and have both a clinical and a consultancy role (Lillywhite and Haines, 2010). People with a learning disability are a diverse group, and the severity of their condition can inhibit their abilities and independence (Cumella, 2013). But, how can Occupational Therapists use their professional skills to help those adults with a learning disability? How can these healthcare professionals promote their independence at home? This piece will look at the contribution of an Occupational Therapist giving an adult with a learning disability as much independence in their own locality.
Occupational Therapy takes a client-centered approach to each individual and unique client. This client is Martha. She is 78. She was admitted to the hospital after suffering a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke. It began when she experienced a choking episode and weakness in her right side. The CVA resulted in right hemiplegia and aphasia. Martha has partial paralysis in the right half of her body and cannot verbally communicate. Her primary role is a homemaker. She graduated with a high school education but never pursued a profession. She is the wife of a healthy and supportive 80 year old man. He intends to care for her at home with private assistance. Some of Martha’s meaningful occupations are playing games such as bingo, solitaire and bridge. She also finds satisfaction in tending to her garden.
Kielhofner (2009) states “In the late 1940’s and the 1950s, occupational therapy came under pressure from medicine to establish a new theoretical rationale for its practice. Critiques arose from both Medicine and physicians regarding the concepts used in occupational therapy. Based on those comments, occupational realized the immediate need for a new paradigm. As Kielhofner mentioned “Occupational therapist came to believe it would bring occupational therapist recognition as an efficacious medical service and increase its scientific respectabilities
This article discusses the basic understanding of what occupational therapy is and what it the Occupation is defined as “activites of everyday life, names, organized and given meaning by individuals and a culture” (Association, 2006). This article also discusses the historical aspects of occupational therapy. Occupational therapy was founded by many different professionals with different backgrounds, that came together to share the same idea about how occupational therapy should be and the importance of activites for a person. This article also talks about different types of services that occupational therapy offers. Occupational therapists and assistances can work in many different settings.
...e-based knowledge to inform the therapy practice. It also assists with furthering the therapist’s knowledge of humans as occupational beings as well as the relationship between occupation and health.(Yexer ,1993) introduced occupational science as a fundamental science supporting occupational therapy, with an aim to refocus the provision of therapy back to occupation. Hence, occupational science provides the therapists with support, justifies the meaning and uniqueness of the profession and distinguishes occupational therapy from other professions. In addition (Wilcock, 2001), also emphasises that occupational science might be another way to avoid the possible failure of the occupational therapy as a practice. With a strong research background, occupational therapists could make a contribution to medical science, which may challenge it from a different standpoint.
Woods article compares occupational therapy to the art of weaving. To weave one must interlace two pieces of thread lengthwise (warp) and widthwise (weft). She explains the process of this interlacing thread as the art (weft) and science (warp) combination of Occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is the jack-of-all-trades in the therapy world so to speak. We are known as the artist of daily activates. Unlike other disciplines we can merge into different realms of what occupational practice is for our clients. No matter the diagnosis or the deficits we can treat our patients mind, body and soul with our varied approaches. We are scientists who help heal bones, and better range of motion, and artist to help create opportunities in the canvas of our client’s lives. Making this field the perfect combination of
Occupational therapy made its first appearance in a modern-day setting during the 18th century; however, occupational therapy dates back to 100 BC. The United States medical system adopted occupational therapy in the 19th century. In 1910, occupational therapy became a realized profession. Then, the main focus was working with individuals to get them to a fully functional state. Around 1930, standards of practice were developed for occupational therapists (OT’s). The career continues to evolve and change as new illnesses and disabilities arise. Even with all the changes, the main focus remains intact: helping people.
witnessed first-hand the impact occupational therapy can make in people’s lives, watching the delight of a
Cole, M. B., & Tufano, R. (2008). Applied theories in occupational therapy: A practical approach. Thorofare, New Jersey, United States of America: Slack Inc.
OT was founded in 1917(Barker Schwartz, 2003). Since then, the paradigm has shifted twice, resulting in three different paradigms. Kielhofner (2009) describes the first paradigm as paradigm of occupation that prevailed within occupational therapy from its founding until the 1940s. This paradigm views occupation as an essential part of life and health and focuses on the environment and mind rather than body and impairment. Occupation was seen as a therapeutic tool and a way of achieving dignity for the individual. These values arose due to the influences of social and health care movements of pragmatism, Arts and Crafts movement, and moral...
Occupational therapy has a multifaceted nature providing endless opportunities to serve a wide range of people within many environments, which is just one of the reasons I love this occupation. My long term goals enlist the desire to maximize my knowledge and abilities to care and supplement the lives of anyone that may cross my path in this career. I have seen occupational therapy positively impact the lives of people around me, and I strive to be a bigger role on the team helping make that happen.