An OT is a healthcare worker who works closely with medical staff and physios to enable people to live usually at home when they have problems. For example, an elderly person who has mobility problems and arthritis in their hands. An OT will arrange rails beside the toilet, a chair to go into the bath, a special frame that means you don't have to lift the kettle, anti slip plastic to go under mats and loose carpets, stair rails etc etc. In the case of children, they assess the needs of carers also and provide lifting aids, specially adapted beds, wheelchairs etc etc. They don't just provide practical assistance, they are also resposible for assessing the patients ability to cope or that of the carers. An OT is an essential member of the team when working in community services and hospitals in the UK and often have the last say when we are deciding if someone is ready to be discharged from hospital. (Not always popular when we need the bed!)
An OT is a healthcare worker who works closely with medical staff and physios to enable people to live usually at home when they have problems. For example, an elderly person who has mobility problems and arthritis in their hands. An OT will arrange rails beside the toilet, a chair to go into the bath, a special frame that means you don't have to lift the kettle, anti slip plastic to go under mats and loose carpets, stair rails etc etc. In the case of children, they assess the needs of carers also and provide lifting aids, specially adapted beds, wheelchairs etc etc. They don't just provide practical assistance, they are also resposible for assessing the patients ability to cope or that of the carers. An OT is an essential member of the team when working in community services and hospitals in the UK and often have the last say when we are deciding if someone is ready to be discharged from hospital. (Not always popular when we need the bed!)