Conducting work and life's daily routines are eased by people who hold occupational therapy jobs for patients who are attempting to enhance, recover and improve their skills, according to a press release.
The consumers of these services range from very young newborns to mature senior citizens, all of whom can benefit from the service that is available in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, nursing homes, private practice and home care.
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants work with a variety of patients.
"If someone knew that they wanted a career where they could change their work environment to keep themselves engaged, then working in occupational therapy is a good choice," said program director Thomas Laster with the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at the West Palm Beach campus of South University. "I have met OTAs who go to work every day in elementary schools helping kids, or OTs who fly around the world working with businesses to improve the safety of the working conditions for their employees who perform repetitive tasks, such as on the assembly line."
The first steps of occupational therapists are to evaluate the patient, create a treatment plan and then guide the implementation of the plan.