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The Six Questions - What, Why, Who, When, Where and How about Occupational Therapy

WHAT is Occupational Therapy? Your life is made up of occupations -- or everyday activities. These activities can include many roles such as being a parent, a friend, an artist, a cook or a teacher. Most of the time we don't think about our daily activities until we have trouble doing them. Everyone has an occupation, from the older adult, whose activities include managing their home life and socializing with family, down to the toddler, whose occupation includes playing and developing important skills. Occupational Therapy can sometimes help you when your daily occupations are disrupted.

WHY choose Occupational Therapy? Whether it is an accident, injury, disease or condition that makes it difficult to participate in your daily activities, Occupational Therapy can help people across the lifespan to do the activities they want and need to do for daily living. An occupational therapist will evaluate your situation and then discuss with you (and maybe your family care provider) a plan of action. They will individualize goals that allow you to resume or pursue your valued activities. After your goals are developed, you will work together on a specific intervention plan to help maintain or improve your ability to perform your daily activities.

WHEN to use Occupational Therapy? If you or a family member have ever been diagnosed with a new health condition, you have a child with autism who is having trouble functioning in school or you have an aging parent who wants to remain at home, but you are unsure if it is safe. An occupation therapist can help answer the questions you might have in these situations and help you deal with them.

WHO are Occupational Therapy Practitioners? They are either occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants. They are skilled health care professionals who use research and scientific evidence to ensure their interventions are effective.

WHERE can I get Occupational Therapy and HOW do I schedule an Occupational Therapy visit? Sabetha Community Hospital is proud to employ Cynthia Hill who is a registered/licensed Occupational Therapist and Nikki Rottinghaus, who is a licensed, certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. Both are at the hospital Monday through Friday 8:00 - 4:30pm. If you think Occupational Therapy would help you achieve or maintain your everyday activities, please contact your local physician for a referral. They can help you setup a visit with the Sabetha Community Hospital Occupational Therapy department. For more information, you can call the Occupational Therapy Department at (785) 284-1537.