Occupational Therapists believe that people find meaning in the things that they do, the occupations of everyday life. When injury, illness, disability, or diagnosis prevents you from completing your occupations, that is where Occupational Therapy can assist.

At Royal Hospital, the Occupational Therapists are involved in a variety of different aspects of the patient’s therapeutic journey. Therapy is individualised and depends on the specific needs of each patient.

Activities of daily living: Occupational therapists work closely with the nursing team and caregivers to help facilitate active participation in activities of daily living such as eating, showering, toileting, dressing, and grooming. Many of these tasks have been performed on an automatic or subconscious level for years but after an injury or illness, the patient requires assistance and/or adaptations and assistive devices to perform these safely.

Physical rehabilitation: To improve independence in daily tasks, the occupational therapist will need to identify the underlying cause of impairment and rehabilitate these through various, often creative, activities and exercises. Therapy does not need to be boring- incorporating interests, or previously enjoyed leisure tasks, such as gardening or crafts, into therapy sessions, can improve outcomes.

Cognitive rehabilitation: Attention, memory, problem-solving, and thought-processing skills are just some of the cognitive functions required to complete everyday tasks. Although physical impairments are more obvious, cognitive, and physical function work hand in hand. As Occupational Therapists we will assess, identify areas of cognitive fallout, and then incorporate cognitive therapy into the treatment programme. A combination of process training, compensation, patient and family education, and functional tasks are used in therapy.

Upper limb rehabilitation: Upper limbs and hands play a key role in performing occupations. Occupational Therapists are trained to rehabilitate the upper limb through exercises, functional activities, and the fabrication of splints or pressure garments.

Return to life roles, work, and driving:  The focus of rehabilitation, where possible, is to re-integrate patients into their previous life roles and communities. Occupational Therapists can make recommendations regarding reasonable accommodation measures, energy conservation, and a graded return to work. Practical solutions are problem-solved together with the patient, their families, and employers during their hospital admission.  Some of our Occupational Therapists are specifically trained to complete on/off road fitness to driving assessments. This helps to make practical recommendations regarding a safe return to driving.

Assistive devices and equipment:  Occupational Therapists help with the assessment, prescription, and motivation for equipment such as walking aids, wheelchairs, and bathing aids, necessary to enable a safe discharge. Equipment needs are individualised and therefore assistive devices are key to optimizing functional independence.

Caregiver training and home reintegration: Occupational Therapists are trained to treat holistically, and ensuring a safe discharge into the home environment is key. Recommendations and training with family members and caregivers are completed prior to discharge to ensure a safe re-integration into the home environment. This includes the use of equipment at home, transfers and handling skills, developing a daily routine, and necessary home modifications amongst others.