Today is World Occupational Therapy Day and Rehabilitation Assistant at the Palms Geriatric Home, Amanda La Rose says there needs to be a greater awareness in Guyana about the recuperative service being offered there.
Occupational therapists work with people of all ages across the entire lifespan, from infants to elders in hospice care.
They provide interventions in varied settings, including schools, hospitals, nursing facilities, community clinics, private practices, corporations, among others.
La Rose said while there has not been an official study on the effectiveness of the occupational therapy being offered at the Rehabilitation Department located at the Palms Geriatric Home on Brickdam, many persons with nerve damage, spinal problems, those who suffered a stroke and other forms of immobility were able to return to normalcy, following the therapy.
Like everything else, La Rose said there is room for improvement, citing the need for more therapists and resources. She explained that there is a difference between Occupational therapy and physiotherapy, noting that the two are often confused.
She explained that as compared with Physiotherapy, occupational therapy often focuses on evaluating and improving a persons functional abilities, therefore techniques such as manual therapy or acupuncture are not utilized. The Occupational therapist would commonly help a person optimize their independence and ability to accomplish their daily activities following an injury or in situations of physical impairment.
She is calling on persons who may have immobility or their relatives to visit the department before the condition progresses, since early intervention can prevent lifelong paralysis.
La Rose said those desirous of acquiring the service would need a referral from a doctor and take it into the department so that appointments could be made.
Persons who suffer head injuries could also seek assistance from the department.
Occupational therapists could also work in private practices treating children with autism and sensory processing disorders to help them experience the joys of successful play, self-care and social occupations.
