Job Description
Occupational therapy as a discipline seeks to help the handicapped persons physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially and otherwise. It tends to offer more of psychological help to the disabled who think that life has cheated them. The disability could be from birth, road, or even an air travel accident.
The therapy is not only for the aged, it includes everybody, young and old who require such assistance. Hence the work of the occupational therapist is to make sure that the handicapped persons under his or her care are well nurtured in all areas of life.
Their job responsibility is to cure the patients suffering from mental and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia. Their work is to assist those individuals and plan their activities in order to function more effectively in everyday life. Occupational therapy is also widely used for children with physical and mental disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to autism and fetal alcohol syndrome.
Basic Requirements
Occupational therapists are expected to have either a bachelor's or master's degree in occupational therapy. Training includes course work in various areas such as biology, psychology, physiology, chemistry and so on. The training is pre-arranged to last for a specified period after which an examination is taken. Successful candidates therefore become Registered Occupational Therapists with the term OTR appended to their names.
Medical fitness is also a basic requirement. The person who will take care of others needs not to be an invalid himself. Good communication skills and personal attitudes like patience, love and care are very much important as the job requires such. The ability to baby others and lure them to sleep is also necessary. In fact the therapist should be a very careful and meticulous individual.
Prior experience as a registered doctor or nurse is added advantage but not a must for those who are not, although that will help the individual a great deal.
Employment Outlook
Occupational therapists have the potentiality of being hired by international agencies for greater opportunities worldwide. They go to places as occasion arises. They also cultivate great and wonderful attitudes of love and care from their wealth of experience as therapists.
The salary nature is dependent on the employing organization. However, the pay is relatively good with other medical benefits such as free medical package for the immediate family of the therapist.
Conclusion
Occupational therapy is indeed one of the ways of putting smiles on the faces of others. What a joy to behold the downtrodden and the disabled have a good life simply because someone decided to make it happen.
