During the month of April, Palmeira celebrates Occupational Therapy Month to recognize all the benefits this specialized healthcare provides.
An occupational therapist provides interventions based on evaluation and which emphasize the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (i.e., occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of facilitating participation in roles and situations and in home, school, workplace, community and other settings.
Occupational therapy services are provided for the purpose of promoting health and wellness and are provided to those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction. Furthermore, occupational therapists address the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of occupational performance in a variety of contexts to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life.
“This year we are honoring our Palmeira Partner Dr. Lynda Correa, a licensed and registered occupational therapist in Arizona, who strives to help our patients day in and day out with her expertise in providing better care for better outcomes,” says Palmeira CEO Gen Barter.
“When injury strikes or long term wear of joints and muscles require rehabilitation, an occupational therapist provides the necessary exercises to get us back into our daily routines,” explains Barter. “Simply getting out of bed may be a challenge or moving from one position to another becomes a problem we need to overcome.”
According to Barter, occupational therapists focus on upper body weakness or loss of function. They have studied the movements required to make these transitions happen safely and to retrain newly repaired body parts to do the job. They know the therapies to help improve weakened muscles and alternative movements.
She adds that occupational therapists need patience and strong interpersonal skills to inspire trust and respect in their patients. Patience is necessary because many patients may not show rapid improvement. Ingenuity and imagination in adapting activities to individual needs are assets. And those working in home health care services must be able to adapt to a variety of settings.For every age and ability, occupational therapists provide care to improve the quality of life to each patient.
During Occupational Therapy Month, patients can recognize an occupational therapist you know by using #OccupationalTherapyMonth to share on social media.
According to Barter, your therapist will use a functional assessment tool to help you develop a plan and accomplish activities that are important to your goal of maintaining a better outcome.
Your home will be your campus, as you learn to manage activities such as bathing, personal hygiene, dressing, meal preparation, eating, bowel and bladder management, and more. Many times, patients are nervous to try things. Your therapist will help you build confidence and work towards regaining your maximum independence. Palmeira Home Health OTs are experts with tips, tricks and ways to help you remaster these daily skills.
Here is a partial list your therapist may work on with you:
- Strokes (also known as a CVA) with upper body weakness
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Training, such as bathing and dressing
- Upper Body Strengthening
- Adaptation to Loss of Mobility
- Education on the Proper Use of Medical Equipment or Adaptive Devices
- Learn more at https://www.palmhh.com/services/occupational-therapy/
About National Occupational Therapy Month
Occupational Therapy Month began in 1980 to correspond with the annual conference and expo for The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. The profession promotes health by helping people to perform purposeful and meaningful physical activities. They help eliminate any problems that cause havoc with the ability to do what you enjoy. For example, you may have been in a car accident and temporarily lost the use of your right arm. An occupational therapist will show you alternative ways to get things done without using your right arm.
About Palmeira Home + Health
Palmeira Home + Health, a division of Palmeira Health Services headquartered in Orange, CA, is a leading home health care provider offering skilled nursing services to patients in Arizona and Nevada. Palmeira helps patients recover faster by initiating follow up care sooner within 24 hours, using a sophisticated Point-of-Care Technology for a more effective continuum of care, and providing a coordinated treatment regimen focused on lower hospital readmission rates. Palmeira currently works with over 500 physicians, hospitals and rehabilitation centers to provide services with lower readmission rates half the national average. Learn more at www.PalmHH.com.
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Media Contact:
Gail Guge
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(909) 908-3717
