Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists

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Occupational Therapists
For the past decades, occupational therapists have demonstrated a considerable contribution in healthcare organizations. Traditionally, the role of the occupational therapists focused on the assessment and provision of equipments and social care services for the vulnerable and disabled people. In today’s society, the Social Care Institute for Excellence (2012, p1) affirms that, occupational therapists are now developing and extending their role in social care settings, for instance in reablement and rehabilitation. This essay seeks to analyse how occupational therapists have added value within social care setting and department of health care.
A study conducted by Grieve & Gnanasekaran (2008, p10) emphasizes that, occupational therapists play a major role in the provision of reablement services. They assist in the ongoing treatment of people with complex conditions. For instance, occupational therapists help people to do things for themselves instead of the conventional home care approach of other people doing things for them. The major focus of reablement is to restore independent functioning. With this, occupation therapists provide guidance and leadership, which as a result, ensures that individuals have adequate support to be independent in life. In social case settings, occupational therapists ensure that the elderly and disabled have a wider choice of how their needs are met (Dziedzic & Hammond 2010, p33). For instance, they help people to cope with their illness by re-learning or learning the necessary skills for living. Occupational therapists ensure that the elderly and disabled have access to reablement services such as leisure and education, transport, and job opportunities (Spaulding 2005, p10).
It is paramount for occupational therapists to lead a reablement services because they integrate a successful care in health and social care services. They work together with healthcare professionals across all interfaces to ensure that people acquire the care and intervention they need. In so doing, they understand the services available, people who can help, and administer the right care or service required (White 2011, p1). Occupational therapists support victims with various illnesses such as depression and physical long term conditions. In this case, they apply skills used in vocational rehabilitation to help people recover severe health conditions. For instance, an occupational therapist can minimize the risk of deterioration after stroke. In such a case, therapists may help stroke survivors to relearn and learn the skills for self-care management, and tasks associated with leisure, work, or family activities. Occupational therapists may utilize various techniques to help the patient live a fulfilling life regardless of the illness. These techniques include management of spasticity, posture and positioning, treatment to attain functional ability, and cognitive and perceptual ability. As a result, this may help patients to remain independent in their homes (Taylor 2007, p33).
Researches on reablement examine whether better results can be achieved without having occupational therapists. A research conducted by Social Care Institute for Excellence (2012, p1) indicates that, occupational therapists improve people’s independence and confidence and as a result, it reduces the spending on social services and home care. To sum up, occupational therapists helps people to attain a satisfied and fulfilled state in life through interventions designed to promote health, prevent disability or injury, and restore or sustain the highest level of independence.

Bibliography
Dziedzic, K., & Hammond, A 2010, Rheumatology: evidence-based practice for physiotherapists and occupational therapists, Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone.
Grieve, J. I., & Gnanasekaran, L 2008, Neuropsychology for occupational therapists: cognition in occupational performance, Oxford, Blackwell Pub.
Social Care Institute for Excellence 2012, At a glance 52: Reablement: key issues for commissioners of adult social care, Retrieved from http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/ataglance/ataglance52.asp
Spaulding, S. J 2005, Meaningful motion: biomechanics for occupational therapists, Edinburgh, Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone.
Taylor, M. C 2007, Evidence-based practice for occupational therapists, Oxford, Blackwell.
White, M 2011, Why occupational therapists have a vital role in integrated care, Retrieved from http://www.hsj.co.uk/resource-centre/best-practice/quality-and-performance-resources/why-occupational-therapists-have-a-vital-role-in-integrated-care/5039080.article