26 October 2009

Occupational Therapy plays a major part in helping everyday people do everyday things. Occupational Therapy is part of every community and may be needed by anyone, at any time.

Occupational Therapy Week recognises the importance and achievements of individuals in the profession, between Sunday 25 and Saturday 31 October. The theme for this year’s awareness week is OT: Live Life to the Full.  

Occupational Therapy (OT) enables people to live life to its fullest by enhancing their ability to live better with injury, illness or disability. Occupational Therapists (OTs) can be the difference between existing and making the best of each moment in life.  (just thought live life to the full was repeated)

Glen Innes Community Health’s Occupational Therapist, Melissa Hill, said OTs can help by looking at an individual’s functional abilities, and the skills they need or want in order to do everyday activities.

“As there is no age limit on ‘living life to the full’, there is no age limit to the types of people that OTs can help,” Ms Hill said.

Typically, OTs can help people who have illnesses or disabilities such as amputation, arthritis, back injuries, burns, cancer, childhood disorders, developmental delays, hand injuries, heart disease, learning difficulties, neurological impairment (stroke, head injuries, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy), difficulties associated with ageing, following surgery (such as total hip replacements), spinal injuries, and visual impairment. 

“OTs can also help through education and health promotion activities. In September this year, the Occupational Therapist and the Physiotherapist at Glen Innes Health Service trialled a four-week (8-session) falls education and balance exercise group,” Ms Hill said.

“The aim of the group was to reduce the participants’ risk of having a fall, their risk of injury from falls if they do have one, and increasing their strength and balance skills to reduce the risk of falls.

“Topics covered during the program all related to reducing the risk and impact of falls and included physical activity, nutrition, home environment, home medicines reviews, vision and mobility, continence, medical implications, and psychological impact of falls. There was an introduction to Tai Chi and other activities at Garden Court.  We plan to run the group sessions again in the near future,” Ms Hill said. 

Your local Occupational Therapy service is based at Glen Innes Community Health, and covers the communities of Glen Innes, Emmaville, Deepwater, Tenterfield and surrounding areas. For details contact Glen Innes Community Health Centre on (02) 6739 0100.

A photograph of the Glen Innes falls group is available on request.

(HNE-2044)

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: (02) 6767 7135 or 0428 106 183