Occupational therapists are nothing short of miracle workers. They seek solutions for different people with varying issues, attempt to understand them, investigate what causes them, and develop appropriate treatments or programs. An Occupational Therapist may train the patient how to properly eat, dress, getting across the room, use the computer, cook and so much more involving everyday tasks that a patient would normally do with ease after the affliction. He or she may teach or train a patient with an exercise or two just to keep up with the muscular spasticity that affects movements.
Occupational Therapists work mostly with cognitive problems. For example, they'll help patients with forgetfulness and train the patients using appropriate methods to develop coordination. Information technology has greatly aided the Occupational therapists’ jobs by using software that help patients improve coordination, perceptions, sequence, solving problems – all vital especially if the patient is living alone.
Patients affected with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular spasticity are the Occupational Therapists most common patients. An Occupational Therapist may recommend assistive devices to help patients dress, eat, and other adaptive devises including the use of a wheelchair to get around do things. Occupational therapists’ patients can still work. Therefore they must create an appropriate situation so that patients can still carry out certain functions at work or at home. The Occupational Therapists may collaborate with the patient’s employer if the patient has difficulty adjusting to the work environment. The Occupational Therapist may organize employment, assess the work place, set up activity schedules and evaluates the patient’s progress.
An occupational therapist may work on an individual patient. Some work on a particular group, age or disability. An Occupational Therapist may also make recommendations in classrooms arrangement and provide training for the affected kids to help them succeed at school. Occupational Therapists may also work with toddlers to prepare them for school, communicating with the teachers and provide modifications around the classrooms so that affected kids can fit in like the others, socially.
Elderly patients affected by cognitive issues also rely upon the expertise of an occupational therapist to help them lead normal, productive, and active lifestyles by devising a wide array of activities and methods. Elderly patients also need assistive devices and conduct tests. Evaluation of the patient is also important so that appropriate treatment can be recommended and makes help patient’s homes hazard free.
Occupational therapists overall work is focused on treating people with cognitive issues such mental development challenged patients, the mentally ill, depressed, and disturbed individuals. Their goal is to help them cope with everyday life at home or at work. Occupational Therapists may also treat patients affected with stress, alcoholism, substance abuse, bulimia and anorexia, and other diseases that could affect normal daily functions.
Occupational therapy jobs are expected to increase rapidly until the year 2015. No other profession could help these patients and with recent medical results, more and more industry is in need of occupational therapists in many years to come. Occupational therapists can earn median income:
• Schools - $55,000 annually
• Occupational therapists centers - $64,000 per annum
• Retirement home, nursing homes - $65,000 per year
• Hospitals - $63,000 per year
• Private practice and home health care - $68,000 a year
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