October the 21st to 27th is Occupational Therapy Australia Week, to coincide with World Occupation Therapy Day on Sunday the 27th of October
At RSL Care SA we are very excited to have a full time Occupational Therapist (OT) on our staff. Working closely with the Physiotherapists, Veteran Support Officer and Wellbeing department, our OT allows us to respond to the individual needs and preferences of our residents by delivering a range of tailored activities and services. This has allowed us to further explore the services we can offer to veterans living with PTSD, specifically the younger generation of Vietnam veterans who are now beginning to access residential aged care.
What is an OT?
Occupational Therapists are qualified health professionals who facilitate people of all ages and abilities to participate in activities that will allow them to live fulfilling lives. OT’s are client-centred and use ongoing assessments and observations to understand what is important to their client and what difficulties they may be facing that prevents them from participating in occupations of every day life. With the use of therapeutic activities, strategies, adaptions and/or equipment, OT’s will then work with the client to help them achieve their goals. This may include facilitating changes to the clients environment to make life easier and safer (e.g. have a pipe for a ball ramp so residents with limited arm movement can still play bowls). OT’s can also instruct direct care workers about how to safely support a person and respect their preferences in daily life. Essentially, OT’s work with people who, for whatever reason (physically, mentally, emotionally or environmentally), are having difficulties doing what need or want to enjoy life.
At RSL Care SA, our Occupational Therapist works as part of the Wellbeing Team to enable, facilitate and support the residents’ access to tasks and activities they wish to engage in. Working closely with the Physiotherapy department, our OT helps residents to balance abilities and task demands to help them maintain their independence while ensuring all care needs are met. Our OT also works with nursing and care staff in our Memory Support Unit to help residents adapt to their new lifestyle.
OT week activities
This years OT week theme is “Celebrating our global community” and we have lots of activities happening at both of our Residential Aged Care sites:
- The Pick-Up-Stick challenge will teach residents new skills and ways to use helpful gadgets and aids
- A ‘Tech Education’ session will help to advise and orientate residents to their technological gadgets
- The 2018 Invictus Games are very fittingly being held on the same week as OT week! our residents will be watching and supporting the Invictus Games, learning about what the games are all about, how the athletes have adapted their performance to their unique and individual needs to reach their goals, and participating in a few adapted games themselves!
For further information about OT week and the OT profession please visit the following links:
https://www.otaus.com.au/promotions-media/ot-week
http://aboutoccupationaltherapy.com.au/
