Occupational therapy support to help maintain independence

By meeting with patients regularly, Phyllis Tuckwell’s occupational therapists can work with them as their condition progresses, providing the support they currently require, and looking ahead to prepare for their future needs.

This begins with assessing how living with their illness is impacting their ability to perform essential activities — referred to as ‘occupations’ — which include personal care, leisure, work, education and social connections. It can then lead to support such as prescribing equipment to enable people to continue doing the activities that are important to them. This could include having grab rails fitted in a patient’s house to support them as they move around; specialist seating which can help patients to move from sitting to standing; and transfer aids that carers can use to help patients move from chair to wheelchair, for example.

Our occupational therapists are always planning ahead to prepare for patients’ future needs. They work with patients and carers to ensure that any items patients will require in the future have been ordered and put in place beforehand, so they are ready for when they are needed.

By working with patients throughout their illness, our occupational therapists can reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and help patients to remain at home for as long as possible, empowered to manage their symptoms and participate fully in life, and sustaining their quality of life as their condition changes.