Therapists deal with obstacles at home, from support to cooking a meal to moving after public transport

Therapists Zabacii (OT) were in the center of attention this month after the National Disabled Insurance Agency (NDIA) freeze NDIS payments for these services at the address USD 193.99 per hour for the sixth year.

NDIA also travel payments for OT who visit people at home and community by 50%.

Minister of Health Mark Bulter says It is essential that people on NDI do not pay more for therapy and support than in the healthcare or aging system.

But OT they are interested This can affect the life of therapists, including their ability to support people with disabilities in their homes and communities.

But what can OTS really do? And why is it better to do it at the person’s home and community?

Who can see OT?

Imagine that you are trying to go back to everyday life after a solemn health failure, such as a car accident or stroke or an episode of long -term state or disability, such as depression or arthritis. What you did easily can become challenging and exhausting.

After such failure, your home or community can also feel like an obstacle. Maybe you can no longer move the washing basket to the line, or you are trying to keep up with your children.

Here, occupational therapy can have a real difference. They are health care employees who allow people to do things they need, want and love to do in everyday life, from clothes to dinner, gardening to riding.

Therapists work with people of all ages. They overcome the barriers, changing the environments and objects we operate, teaching novel skills, rehabilitating the aged ones and improving the way we deal with tasks.

What can OTS do at home and community?

Seeing people in their own homes and communities allows the therapist to get a more true picture of a person’s robust and skills, which can be challenging to understand in the clinic.

OT operate their skills and creativity to provide personalized care, adapted to individual needs and circumstances.

An elderly person with dementia can, for example, cause an alarm by placing a plastic kettle on a hospital stove. But they could make a cup of tea perfectly at home with a kettle with a stove.

OT can support home and community mobility, such as checking a wheelchair flows smoothly through the door and can maneuver in tight spaces such as bathrooms.

However, they can advise kitchen aids and sitting to save energy for people with such conditions as multiple sclerosis to support them to continue cooking family meals.

When working with neurodiver people of all ages, OT can facilitate autistic teenagers in developing sensory strategies in dealing with a hardening and loud school day.

For other people, OT support can facilitate them navigate with a local public transport system. Learning and practicing skills where they are used makes it easier to transfer them to everyday life.

What do research say?

Studies show the house and community OT may lead to Better activity and participation than the therapy based on the clinic. It is too profitable.

For Survivor to strokeOT performs daily tasks, such as a shower or clothes.

At home, it soothes the weight and stress for Parents of children with cerebral palsy AND Guardians of people with dementia.

Ot at home helps the elderly current health problems be more actively involved in their communities.

The OT community is also effective in supporting the recovery of people from Mental health problemsenabling them to enjoy social and free, search and maintain employment and enhance physical activity.

OT focuses on helping to do things that keep good and independent, which means less travel back to the hospital. Maybe maybe Spot and solve For example, threats related to traveling at home before a brittle person has a fall.

People who get ot at home shortly after leaving the hospital are It is less likely that it will be reinforced. Emerging research also suggests that it can work Together with medical rescue When someone falls at home, visiting and offering immediate treatment that prevents you from avoiding staying in the hospital.

There are several disadvantages, such as Limited access to the community in an adverse situation. While the teens can solve some barriers, so it is not suitable in every case.

How do Australians gain access to OT?

There are many access paths to OT services, but the complexity of the healthcare system means that this process is challenging to navigate.

OT services can also be exorbitant due to Unreasonably limited financingequipment and transport costs.

OT is available under Home care packages and Home Commonwealth Home Support Program For the elderly.

OT has also played a key role in supporting Participants of NDIS From the time the program was created. However, waiting lists often extend for many months and not everyone knows what it can offer.

You can also access the OT community Medicare chronic disease management plansLocal health and council centers and through private health insurance discounts.

Thanks to Lana O’Neil (Occupational Therapist at Western Health in Victoria) and Sarah McCann (Senior Occupational Therapist at Western Health) for sharing your clinical knowledge in this article.