Occupational Therapy Near Me: A Caregiver’s Secret Weapon
Think about the last time someone said, “Tell me about yourself”. You likely shared a list of what you do–your job, your roles, or your hobbies. For example:
- “I’m a parent.”
- “I work as an accountant.”
- “I play tennis.”
If we break down these descriptors, we get a list of activities and tasks that are known as occupations. We do occupations every day! From brushing our teeth to sending a work email to knitting a scarf, our lives are made up of occupations that require skill, knowledge, and motivation to do independently. As a caregiver, you help support your care recipient’s daily occupations and perform your own.
At Trualta, we can help you gain the skills and knowledge to support your caregiving activities. Check if you have free access.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
When supporting your care recipient’s daily occupations, it’s easy to feel out of your depth. You may have heard of speech therapy or physical therapy–but what is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapists, also known as OTs, are healthcare professionals who help their patients do meaningful activities while living with (or recovering from) an injury, illness, health condition, or other challenges. They are expert problem-solvers who help find creative solutions to make daily activities easier. For example:
- Self-care activities like bathing, brushing teeth, or eating.
- Productivity activities like working, cooking, or cleaning the home.
- Leisure activities like hobbies, social activities, or sports.
Occupational therapy has a wide scope. On the plus side, this means you may be able to find an OT who specializes in certain areas that meet your loved one’s needs. An occupational therapist might:
- Work in different settings. For example, at a hand therapy clinic, on a healthcare team in a hospital, or even in your home.
- Work with different populations. For example, pediatric occupational therapy services support children and their parents.
- Work with different conditions. For example, brain injury, pain, or chronic illness.
- Work on different occupational challenges. For example, goal setting, creating a daily routine, or rehabilitation from an injury.
How Occupational Therapy Can Be Your Caregiving Secret Weapon
As a caregiver, you need all the support you can get! Working with an occupational therapist can not only help you in several care areas, but they can also support your needs as a caregiver. Here are 6 ways an occupational therapist can be your caregiving secret weapon.
1. Save Time & Energy
A major part of occupational therapy is supporting a person’s independence. An occupational therapist can help your loved one find ways to engage or participate in daily activities. They might do this by:
- Modifying activities to meet their needs
- Using assistive devices or equipment
- Helping them with skill building or rehabilitation
When your care recipient takes a more active role in their daily activities, this can help lighten your caregiving load. Over time, it may help you save time and energy that you can devote to other daily activities.
2. Improve Care Quality
Working with an occupational therapist allows you to learn from an expert! They can teach you:
- How to properly use equipment and assistive devices
- Use good body mechanics for mobility, transfers, and care tasks
- How to keep your care recipient safe in the home and community
- Manage challenging behaviors
Taking out the guesswork can help make caregiving tasks easier. Additionally, they can give you feedback and coaching to help you improve your skills. They can also point you to helpful tools and resources you can use to keep learning.
3. Support Your Mental Health
Caregiving isn’t easy. Occupational therapists can help you:
- Use coping skills to deal with challenging feelings and thoughts
- Learn stress management techniques
- Provide emotional support
These healthcare professionals can support your mental health and help manage caregiver burnout.
4. Help With Decision-Making
Many caregivers are faced with difficult decisions or confusing care situations. While an occupational therapist won’t tell you what to do, they can:
- Give professional advice
- Answer questions
- Help you weigh the pros and cons of your options
- Share expertise based on their experience
Talking through decisions and getting support can help you feel more confident and informed in your decision-making.
5. Resource Connections
An occupational therapist can help you learn about and access resources that support you and your care recipient. For example:
- Federal, state, and non-profit funding.
- Support groups (for you or your care recipient)
- Respite care options
6. Meet Your Needs
Many caregivers neglect their own needs when providing care to another person. Over time, this can contribute to burnout. An occupational therapist can help you identify when you’re burned out and give you tools and resources to address your needs.
Additionally, when your loved one is more independent and has more support, this may give you more time to focus on your own meaningful occupations.
How Can I Find Occupational Therapy Near Me?
There are a few ways you can find an occupational therapist:
- Ask for a referral from your care recipient’s doctor. If your care recipient is already working with a healthcare team, ask if there’s an occupational therapist available.
- Do an online search for your state’s occupational therapy association. These are regulatory organizations that can help you find a qualified occupational therapist. Many have a button on their home page that says “find an OT” or “find a therapist”.
- Search by population, concern, and location. For example, search “pediatric occupational therapist + hand therapy + your state”.
Looking for more information and resources that can make your life as a caregiver easier? Check if you have free access to Trualta.
References
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9511233/
- https://caot.ca/site/about/ot?nav=sidebar&banner=1
- https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot
- https://www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/practice/manage/presentation-resources/brochure/what-is-ot-brochure.pdf
- https://otontario.ca/manage-at-home/#:~:text=Support%20%2F%20consultation%20to%20family%20and%20caregivers&text=An%20OT%20can%20also%20help%20caregivers%20manage%20stress%20and%20prevent,dementia%20or%20mental%20health%20problems.
- https://caot.ca/document/7831/SUPPORTING%20%20&%20EDUCATING%20CAREGIVERS.pdf
- https://www.nplhh.com/occupational-therapy-strategies-that-improve-functional-independence/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20foundational%20approaches,can%20make%20daily%20tasks%20easier.
- https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/articles/preventing-caregiver-burnout-5493
- https://www.njota.org/
