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The Occupational Therapy is team provides advice and make changes to the environment to prevent or overcome physical, emotional, social and other disabilities in people. Occupational therapists assist their clients in coping, adapting and overcoming the demands and tasks of their everyday life. This is done by the use of normal daily activities and tasks, or occupations, in a therapeutic way to promote health and maintain a person's well-being, which may be affected by disease or injuries
SERVICES OFFERED
General Home Safety
Minor modifications such as building access issues, handrail installations and changes to flooring surfaces can be made. Often this will require a 3rd party general maintenance professional to be engaged which can be coordinated by the OT.
Ergonomic Assessments
Address issues pertaining to poor ergonomics in relation to chairs & lounge chairs. This may include demonstrating safe transfer techniques and manual handling safety.
Wheelchair/Scooters
Assessments for the provision or modification of a wheelchair (manual or electric) or electric scooter. Trials also provide an opportunity to educate the clients about the use and maintenance of the equipment and how to safely transfer on and off the equipment.
Hoists
Assessment for the provision of hoists, which could include ceiling hoists, freestanding hoists and portable hoists. All equipment is trialled with the individual and tuition is provided in the safe use of the equipment.
Pressure Care
Equipment can be prescribed to prevent/manage pressure sores/ulcers in the different positions (bed, wheelchair, seats). The attending OT can provide education sessions on minimising or preventing pressure wounds.
Aids & Equipment
There are a number of resources that are available that promote safe independent living through the use of specialised equipment.
Personal Alarms can provide people with additional confidence to continue to live independently. The OT team can organise and trial these devices. As necessary, funding requests can be prepared on behalf of the client.
Palliative Assistance
Set up of Equipment to facilitate palliative care in the home.
Staying Safe: Occupational Therpist Education resource
A resource has been developed by Knox Community Health Service to support Occupational Therapists (OTs) working with older people who are living independently in the community.
This is following implementation of education sessions within our local community. The resource aims to address home safety education and raise awareness about risk factors that can affect client’s safety. It focuses on risk reduction, encouraging older people to monitor their own behaviour and seek assistance as required.
There is strong evidence to support the fact that increasing client’s knowledge through education, and empowering them to self monitor, is a powerful tool in facilitating clients independence and allowing them to remain safely in their own homes.
The development of education sessions, however is a time consuming and challenging exercise for any OT in the current climate of service provision. This resource has been designed to be easily implemented by OT’s, and adapted to suit the target audience, time frame and goals.
You will find the following documents on the publications page.
- Introduction of Staying Safe Resource Manual.doc
- "Staying Safe" Resource- Order form
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