An Occupational Therapist focuses specifically on how a patient will manage with their activities of daily living which we often take for granted. These includes tasks such as getting out of bed, managing self-care or making a hot drink.
Occupational therapists ensure a thorough history of the patient’s ability to function and manage at home is completed so they will discuss this at length with the patient or family member. This will include any care or equipment already in place. This is required to help understand what is needed to ensure that a patient is discharged safely and to the most appropriate destination with support or follow up if required.
Occupational Therapists also have a key role in assessing a patient’s cognitive ability especially when they impact on a patient’s ability to manage with day-to-day tasks. This could include memory loss, delirium etc.
