Occupational Therapists bridge healthcare gap

As a bridge between health facilities and the community, occupational therapists are rehabilitating patients and empowering communities to enable a more independent, healthy population.

Between 3 and 7 October, we observe international Occupational Therapy week. With one of the most common misconceptions that occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists are the same, OT’s play a key role in promoting health, preventing disability and restoring independence and function.

“We enable people to engage in meaningful daily activities such as dressing, bathing, eating, returning to work or school. We work across settings and with all age groups across the life course. We also work with all disabilities whether physical, mental health or developmental challenges by developing intervention programmes, adapting the environment, collaborating with other professionals to improve the well being and participation in life tasks,” explains Ruwayda Hull, OT and Acting Medical Therapeutic and support services coordinator for the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness in the Klipfontein Mitchells Plain Substructure (KMPSS).

“We are able to advocate for persons with disability and enable them to be active participants in community living and daily tasks. OTs have the ability to strategically network and collaborate with the community, stakeholders and other professionals from various sectors. We are able to be person-centered and provide opportunities to engage in action and dialogue to improve community’s burden of disease, social determinants and other challenges.”

OTs are also active in the Community Orientated Primary Health Care (COPC) model bringing services closer to communities and empowering communities to engage in wellness collaboratively.

“We contribute to COPC by applying our expertise in analysing our patients, their occupations and environments to deliver client-centered, community-relevant rehabilitation,” says Natasha Paarman, OT at Inzame Zabantu and Crossroads Community Day Centres.

OTs are key in the training of rehabilitation care workers (RCWs) and community health workers (CHWs) to rehabilitate clients in their homes to ensure continuity of care. RCWs and CHWs are trained on safe handling, rehabilitation techniques, positioning red flags of development and assistive devices.

With a variety of programmes, outreaches and partnerships with CHWs, RCWs, allied health workers and NPOs, OTs are key in promoting health and wellness.

“Collaboration is imperative for holistic care. OT’s do not only treat symptoms of a condition, we tailor our intervention in a way that includes client goals, family goals, community goals or organisational goals so that intervention is relevant and meaningful to clients’ environments, cultures and resources. To achieve this, we need the expertise and strengths of various stakeholders within the community, who may even understand and relate to the community members in a manner that we are not able to,” says Mitchells Plain Community Health Centre OT, Ayesha Mesias.

OTs are vital in the rehabilitation of a variety of ailments, including neurological conditions – strokes, Head injuries, Spinal cord injuries, alzheimers disease, surgical – amputations, hip and knee replacements. Orthopaedic – hand conditions, arthritic conditions, mental health – dementia, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, bipolar mood disorder, and depression, not limited to the above and paediatric – developmental delays, autism (ASD), and ADHD.

Caregivers often receive hands-on training before the discharge of their loved ones, to ensure continuity of care in the holistic rehabilitation of patients.

Tips for caregivers and loved ones:

• Make sure you know what is happening with your loved one before discharge. Ask as many questions as you want from the healthcare teams.
• Learn as much as possible about the diagnosis.
• Ensure that you consulted with all healthcare professionals to discuss what care is needed upon discharge and how you can assist.
• Prepare your home adequately before discharge.
• Request discharge summary, which you can take to your local clinic.
• Ask what signs of pain or problems you should look out for.
• Be calm and find out where you can go for support.
• Get the contact details of your rehab professionals.
• Care for the carer – ask for support to prevent burnout in the care of the patient.
• Do not over help. Encourage independence as far as possible. Find out what the patient can do for themselves so that you can encourage independence at home and continue with therapeutic tasks after discharge. Do not do too much if the patient can do certain tasks themselves.
• Get a good support system at home. You cannot do everything alone. Have healthy conversations with the extended family, neighbours, friends, trusted people from your religious groups, who are willing to assist and support.
• Go to your local clinic where there is an OT based to get more help, resources and assistance