You may meet
your occupational therapist in a variety of places, including in your own home,
a hospital, a Parkinson's clinic, a rehabilitation unit, an outpatient clinic,
or in a residential or nursing home. In some countries it is possible to meet an
occupational therapist at a Parkinson's support association office.
Appointments
usually last between 30 and 60 minutes, and therapists will often recommend a short
course of occupational therapy – usually once a week, for a month or two.
At the first
appointment, an occupational therapist will ask about your daily activities, in
particular how you look after yourself, your work and your leisure interests. For
example there may be problems in preparing meals, dressing, shopping, walking
in crowded places, doing a leisure activity, using a computer, or when reading.
Collaboration is essential to the success of this form of treatment, so it is
important to tell your occupational therapist about any problems you encounter.
Then together you will be able to discuss aims and requirements for both you
and your family, and plan a suitable course of treatment to enable you to reach
your chosen goals.
The
occupational therapist will recommend different ways of doing problem tasks, or
advise about use of appropriate gadgets or technical aids (for example, a pen grip to assist with writing, special combined
cutlery, or electronic devices to open your front door from elsewhere in your
home). An occupational therapist can also assess and advise about adapting your
home or workplace to improve ease or safety, for example by arranging
installation of extra hand rails by steps, stairs and perhaps in bathrooms.
Some of the
following may also be included in a course of occupational therapy:
- learning
easier or safer ways of doing daily activities
- making
adjustments in work routines
- finding
ways to continue to enjoy leisure and social activities
- planning
daily routines and organising domestic or work related tasks
- finding
ways to manage feelings of fatigue
- learning
to use recommended gadgets, technical aids or adaptations
- receiving
emotional support and encouragement to live a more fulfilled life
- learning
more about Parkinson’s and how to better manage the symptoms of the condition
- organising
or obtaining information about further help, support and services that may be
of interest to you or your family.
