Expanding Roles for Occupational Therapists

Posted by



Occupational Therapists (OTs) help people young and old with physical, cognitive or emotional limitations. The demand for these professionals has bounced back after layoffs and hiring freezes brought on by federal legislation limiting reimbursement for these services.

OT professionals are branching out beyond hospitals and long-term care facilities and getting into a variety of heretofore-unconventional areas.

Making Homes Safer. OTs work with elderly individuals, families and architects to make homes more accessible and less hazardous for those with poor mobility, vision or other problems.

Making Cities Safer. OTs also help architects, city planners and engineers incorporate the needs of seniors into proposed projects.

Driver Screenings. OTs are often asked to screen drivers, and perform evaluations and interventions to ensure that older drivers or those with special limitations do not injure themselves or others.

Easing Live-at-Home Patients. People who have suffered strokes or must deal with other postoperative conditions often call on OTs to help them lead productive, independent lives.

Disabled Students. Many OTs work in schools, helping students with disabilities like autism prepare to enter special-education programs.

Older Workers. OTs are helping employers develop strategies and ergonomic environments that keep older workers productive and prevent injuries.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Comment

Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.

Jobs to Watch