"therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings...provided for hte purpose of promoting health and wellness to those who are at risk...addresses aspects of performance in a variety of contexts to support engagement in evetryday life activities that affect ealth, well-being, and quality of life" (AOTA, 2004a_
- In other words, occupational therapy aims to help individuals in finding ways to perform in everyday life to the best of his or her ability, addresses where defiencies lie due to disability or illness.
Occupation-defined:
"Goal-directed pursuit having meaning to performance and having multiple tasks (Christiansen et al., 2005, p.548).
An occupatoin can take form in an intended behavior towards accomplishing a task. When a disability interferes with a daily occupation, occupational therapy is needed.
Areas of occupation include: acitivites of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation.
Examples:
Activity of daily living (ADL)= taking care of oneself, providing basis for survival and well being in the social world (bathing, showering, eating, feeding etc.)
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)= activities to support living in community or home setting involving more involved tasks than just self-care exemplified in ADL's (shopping, cooking, money management)
Sleep = obtaining restoration in order to engage in healthy living through rest or sleep (sleep and rest)
Education= learning and participating in the environment (formal education in school setting or informal education by oneself)
Work= employment or volunteer activities (job or volunteer work)
Play= a spontaneous or organized activity providing enjoyment and diversion from reality (exploration and participation in play-like activities...pretend play for example)
Leisure= activity that one engages in out of choice (identifying interests, skills etc.)
Social Participation= organized pattern of behavior which is expected from a system or individual (interactions with community, family, and peers)
Types of Practitioners
Occupational Therapist:
Occupational Therapist Aid
Occupational Therapy assistant
