Occupational therapy is a health profession that empowers people of all ages to overcome barriers in their everyday lives so they can do more and live better.

Occupational therapists (OTs) provide personalized solutions to help people of all ages and abilities recover from an injury or illness, participate in day-to-day activities, and experience life to the fullest. By working with patients, their family members, and health care teams, OTs identify and address any barriers the patient may have with everyday activities. Together, the patient and their OT find solutions that will enable the patient to maintain function, regain skills, develop new skills, and much more.

For example, an OT may assess a patient’s ability to safely get dressed, use the bathroom, or complete a shower after experiencing a stroke or sustaining an injury. They may recommend adaptive equipment, such as a shower chair, raised toilet seat, or dressing aid, to make these activities safer and more manageable. An OT may also assess whether a patient can safely return home, identify potential fall risks, and recommend changes to the home environment. For patients who have experienced a decline in function, the OT may provide strategies to conserve energy, improve cognition and problem-solving, or compensate for changes in strength, balance, or coordination. OTs also work with families and the health care team to develop discharge plans and determine what supports or equipment a patient may need to safely transition home or to another level of care.

Please take a moment this month to express gratitude to all the amazing occupational therapists at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Care Group, and other health care organizations across the country for their contributions to patient care.

To learn more about Occupational Therapy, visit the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists website at www.caot.ca. To reach an OT at TBRHSC, please call ext. 6271.