Introduction
Occupational therapy, or ergo-therapy, is a field of medicine that aims to help a person in everyday life develop, restore and maintain the skills necessary to perform activities that are significant for the health and well-being of this individual. The work of an occupational therapist is not equivalent to that of a psychologist, occupational therapist, social worker, and other professionals. The intended intervention of the occupational therapist is directed at the activities, activities and functions of the person being assisted.
Features of Occupational Therapy
An ergotherapist works with patients with movement disorders. People turn to them to restore social, everyday and functional skills after spinal cord and brain injuries, strokes, and central nervous system lesions. The task of an occupational therapist is to teach the patient self-care skills and organize the process of passive and active rehabilitation (Bhardwaj et al. 24). It is necessary to know the fundamental foundations of the social rehabilitation of vulnerable categories of citizens and understand the principles of psychology, pedagogy and biomechanics.
Occupational therapists work with patients of all ages with various disorders and diseases that interfere with daily activities, so they have many organizations where they can work. Many occupational therapists work in hospitals or private clinics, but there are many opportunities to work in other settings as well. For example, medical practitioners prefer educational settings to help develop children; or the elderly to reduce the difficulties associated with aging.
Job Responsibilities
Ergotherapy contributes to restoring and developing the skills necessary to solve everyday and domestic problems. The work of a specialist begins with a general assessment of the patient’s condition and his interviewing (Hansen et al. 5). The development and implementation of a rehabilitation program and an evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy follow that. In interacting with the patient, the occupational therapist tries to organize and adapt the space around them so that the patient is comfortable using the objects around them (Hansen et al. 8). They help restore fine motor skills, restore speech clarity and remove movement stiffness. In addition, an ergotherapist organizes and conducts creative classes in special rehabilitation centers and at home, helps to establish communication with others and restores lost social and household functions.
Appealing of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy aims to help people with physical and mental disabilities become as independent as possible in their daily lives. It is more than occupational therapy; it refers to the different activities that a person encounters every day that make sense to him/her. An ergotherapist develops an individual assistance program for the patient and seeks to improve the patient’s quality of life. At the same time, the specialist considers each person’s unique characteristics; that is, therapy is based on a personal approach. An ergotherapist selects an individual treatment, taking into account what the person wants to do, his/her daily duties and opportunities, and works with limitations.
There are many career opportunities in occupational therapy. As with other health professions, occupational therapists can take advantage of continuing education opportunities and enhance their strengths with specialization. To a greater extent, this focuses on expanding the areas that an occupational therapist can work with, such as rehabilitation after a stroke, brain injury and more. In addition, experts in this field are in demand in hospitals, polyclinics, sanatoriums, nursing homes, centers for rehabilitation and social services for the disabled, and kindergartens.
Conclusion
A person who has had a disease or injury, or has a developmental disability from birth, often becomes dependent on outside help. They need help finding a solution to the problems associated with the impossibility of taking care of themselves, housekeeping, work, and leisure activities. Purposeful, meaningful action for a person helps to improve their functional abilities, both motor and emotional, cognitive, and mental. The interdisciplinarity of occupational therapy and its desire to improve the lives of people in need are the main motivations that interested me in this career.
Works Cited
Bhardwaj, Manish, et al. “Role of Occupational Therapy in Restoring Fine Motor Skills in Post Stroke Patients-an Analytical Review.” EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR), 2021, pp. 22–31., Web.
Hansen, Bodil Winther, et al. “A Concept Analysis of Creative Activities as Intervention in Occupational Therapy.” Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol. 28, no. 1, 2020, pp. 63–77., Web.