How can occupational therapists help?
Occupational therapy can help someone to live the life they choose by enabling them to engage in everyday activities (occupations) which are meaningful to them.
Examples of these types of activities would be getting washed and dressed, getting a good night’s sleep, preparing meals, accessing their garden and going out into the community.
For people living with a chronic respiratory condition, which may be alongside other chronic conditions, daily struggles with breathlessness, reduced mobility, anxiety, reduced energy and lack of motivation can have a significant impact on their ability their everyday activities.
Together with the person an occupational therapist will assess, identify goals, provide intervention and evaluate.
In practice in pulmonary rehabilitation, occupational therapy can provide advice and education such as:
- Anxiety management
- Modification of activities, such as dressing and transfer techniques to manage breathlessness
- Adaptation of your home environment by means of adaptive equipment provision. For example bed wedge
- Minor adaptation such as grab rails
- Signposting to other specialist services, such as social care for major adaptations.
We have an occupational therapist within pulmonary rehabilitation who can be on hand to offer support while you access our service.