The type of occupational therapy a child with developmental delays, include the following:
Gross and fine motor skills
Personal care
Social and academic skills
Manipulating small objects using equipment to improve motor skills
Overcoming a sensitive gag reflex so that they can eat well
Whereas for the elderly person receiving occupational therapy, it would be to help restore activities of daily living skills lost due to health reasons like having a stroke or memory loss like progressive dementia. Occupational therapy positions in this case would help in developing skills for coping with memory loss like the making of a list. If the purpose of occupational therapy is physical then activities like games and exercise will help to re-train the mind to perform some physical skills.
Others who would receive occupational therapy services would be those who have suffered some sort of physical trauma that leaves some part of the body incapable to perform activities of daily living skills. In that case, the therapist will work with the patient to restore the ability to perform those necessary skills.
There are several good reasons to consider Occupational therapy positions. As the population ages (baby boomers), the need for occupational therapists will grow. It will not be boring since no two patients are alike; therefore so will the physical problems and in turn the therapy.
The ability to tailor your career is another good reason to consider Occupational therapy job opportunities. For instance you could start out in pediatrics, do a little career shift and work as a hand, foot specialist. You could do so without having to get an additional degree in order to shift specialties, although it could not hurt. A therapist can just work with a certain age group or specific disabilities.
Make a difference. Not many jobs allow you to see one on one the positive impact of what you do. Take for an example watching an elderly woman who was told she would never walk again but with the determination of both the therapist and herself, she not only regained the ability to walk again but also was able to teach her therapist to do the waltz for her wedding.
The above example also shows the professional freedom of being a therapist. Part of the continuing therapy was for the elderly lady to teach her therapist to waltz. Other examples of this freedom, the therapist can decide that floor exercise is needed for someone that has Autism or aquatic therapy to help with muscle strength for someone with Cerebral Palsy. Or it can be more practical like gardening for agility and strength. If the need arises, being able to use equipment such as wheelchairs.
All of this is depended on the training and background of the therapist and the wishes of the patient. You can be as creative as you like. Most occupational therapists are constantly on the lookout for an object to use as a tool to help the patient. This is part of the fun of this career. And can be as rewarding as being able to see the impact of your work has on someone.
Then there is the freedom of where you want to work and how to tailor it to your life. For instance, if you have children then perhaps working in a school so you can be on the same schedule as your children. Then there is a hospital, nursing home, and house calls. It's all up to you.
This has one limitation and that is on what you decide to specialize. The school is fine if your specialty is pediatrics. Part of working in the patient's home is to assess the home environment for risk of accidents. Another part of that is helping home life a bit easier for the patient like the common problem of doors not being wide enough for a wheelchair.
There are other areas of expertise in Occupational therapy positions such as mental health, eating disorders, drugs, and alcohol abuse and pain management. Ultimately, the goal of an occupational therapist is to help a patient recover, develop, and or maintain daily and working skills so that the patient can continue living an active and independent life.
