A stroke can quickly take away your independence and make things that once were easy a lot more difficult. After you have had a stroke, one way to get back on your feet and to become independent again is to work with an occupational therapist. There are a number of ways an occupational therapist can help you after you have had a stroke, depending on your goals and how the stroke impacted you.
Reteach You Daily Living Skills
One of the main goals of occupational therapy after a stroke is usually to get you to be able to do simple, day-to-day tasks that you will have to engage in once you leave the hospital. Depending on how bad your stroke was, you might not be able to do something as simple as getting dressed. Working with an occupational therapist will help you get to a play where you can do simple, day-to-day tasks so you aren't helpless when you leave the hospital. For example, your occupational therapist might have you practice making meals in a realistic kitchen setting, all the while offering you tips and exercises to help you improve areas of functioning.
Help You Cope With Paralyzation
Often times in strokes, one side of the body might end up paralyzed, while the other side of the body remains functional. Working with an occupational therapist can help you learn how to be as independent as is possible in your situation. Not only will they give you tips for functioning better in your environment, like utilizing online shopping instead of trying to shop yourself, they will also work with you to teach you skills for coping with your paralysis, such as one-handed techniques to do daily tasks.
Ensure You Are Safe When You Return Home
After your occupational therapist has determined that you can return home, they will ensure that you are returning to a safe environment. They will do this by assessing your skills, your needs and your progress and then watch you as you do your daily activities to determine where you need help or are in danger. They will be able to give you recommendations for special equipment to help you stay safe at home, as well as tell you changes you might need to make in your home for improved safety.
If you have had a stroke and can't do the things that you used to do, you should get in contact with an occupational therapist to start your road to recovery. To learn more, contact a company like Bayonet Point Health & Rehabilitation Center.
Share25 May 2016
When my daughter began having academic problems in school and acting out, I knew that something wasn’t right. Her teachers wanted me to put her on ADD medications, but I didn’t think that that was the right course for us. I had serious doubts that ADD was what was causing her problems. I took her to several different specialists before discovering that her issues in school were actually do to a visual processing problem. The doctor recommended vision therapy, not medication, to help correct the problem and get her back on track. The exercises are really starting to pay off, and she’s showing great improvement.
