Community Occupational Therapy

In most of the industrialized countries, community occupational therapy has been a specialized area of occupational therapy. One of the reasons for expansion of these services in community is the social/economical factors. As we know, in these countries the family/social structure is different than in India. We do not see nucleus families in these countries. As result seniors live independently and therefore, they need involvement of OT rehabilitation services.

Home Modifications: Occupational therapists who work in community with seniors are often recognized as experts in safety in home. They are called upon to assess safety and presence of risks, and then act to minimize them. Occupational therapists are also asked to give opinion on the possibility safely keeping a person at home or returning person to retirement home. Safety in the home is an important social issue and occupational therapists need to evaluate fall risk and use intervention approach to keep the patient independent in their homes. Occupational therapists must pair with architects and contractors for design safe homes or modify existing home to enable independence for the patients.

The danger of fall is often a primary concern when it comes to safety at home for seniors. Occupational therapists are health professionals recognized to recommend the appropriate assistive devices based on individual abilities and environmental characteristics. Training clients to use these safety equipment appropriately is also as important as prescribing them. Use of safety equipment certainly reduces fall risk. Besides safety equipment Occupational Therapists are also brought on to improve independence of a person in their homes, besides recommending safety equipment; adaptive aids like reachers, etc; assess accessibility, assess for mobility aids wheeled walker/wheelchair or to improve functional independence while still recouping e.g. using bedside commode etc.

This may require the occupational therapist to get assistance from funding agencies and pair up with other health care professionals.

Opportunities for Occupational Therapist in India

Community occupational therapy is not very well structured in India. Occupational therapist do home visits, however, these are done not to address safety issues but for other area of OT intervention like physical disability. Physical disability helps to regain function, however, some may not be able to regain complete independence. The family/social nucleus is there to assist the disable person but it encourages dependence rather than independence. With the changes in family life in India it adds to the caregivers ever increasing responsibilities. To decrease caregiver fatigue and increase independence and well being of the patient home modification must be a crucial part of rehab in India.

A simple example of how we would convert stairs to wheelchair ramp for accessibility in India is shown here to make a person independent and reduce the burden on the caregivers by enabling patient independence.

Learn about the OT in Architecture program
Functional Solutions – How to advertise the program
Accessibility Program -Use the public to create awareness