Acknowledgement
We would like to thank Jelka Jansa, Occupational Therapist, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, for her contributions to ths section.
We would like to acknowledge the use of information taken from the Parkinson’s Disease Society Singapore publication ‘Parkinson’s News' (Aug-Sept 2007) in compiling this information.
Meeting with an occupational therapist can take place in a variety of settings, including your own home, a hospital, Parkinson's clinic, rehabilitation unit, outpatient clinic or a nursing home. In some countries it is possible to meet at a Parkinson's association office.
The initial appointment will last between 30-45 minutes, although this will vary depending on in which country you live. Additional assessment and treatment sessions should take between 30-60 minutes.
The therapist will ask about your everyday life and your main activities, in particular how you look after yourself, your work and your leisure activities. At the first appointment, it is important to tell your therapist about any problems you encounter on a daily basis. This might be preparing meals, dressing, shopping or reading. Together you will then be able to plan treatment, discuss requirements for both you and your carer, and agree goals. Collaboration is key to the success of the treatment.
The therapist will recommend either the need to use appropriate technical aids (such as pen holder to assist with writing, special cutlery etc) or the need to adapt the home situation (rails, bath seat etc). Often, both are required. Of course, treatment depends on the stage of the disease and includes help with:
