Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals with functional deficits achieve independence in all facets of their lives. It gives people, of all ages, the skills necessary to help them perform their daily activities. Services typically include:

• Customized treatment programs to improve one's ability to perform daily activities
• Comprehensive home evaluations with adaptation recommendations
• Performance skills assessments and treatment
• Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training
• Guidance to family members and caregivers
• Specialized hand therapy and splinting

About Occupational Therapy Practitioners:

Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study of human growth and development with specific emphasis on the social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness and injury. They complete 6 months of supervised clinical internships in various healthcare settings and have passed a national certification examination. Our occupational therapists have entered the field with a bachelor's degree, are registered through the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy, and are licensed in the state of Missouri.

Who Benefits From Occupational Therapy?

A wide variety of people can benefit from occupational therapy, including (but not limited to) those with:

• limitations following a stroke or heart attack
• arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or other serious chronic conditions
• birth injuries, learning problems, or developmental disabilities
• mental health or behavioral problems including Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress
• problems with substance use or eating disorders
• burns, spinal cord injuries, or amputations
• broken bones or other injuries from falls, sports injuries, or accidents
• vision or cognitive problems that threaten their ability to drive
• hand injuries or for treatment after hand surgery

Occupational therapists work with patients at the Perry County Nursing Home, in Riverview at the Park Care and Rehabilitation Center, in the outpatient clinic, in the home health setting, and on the job at local businesses providing a wide variety of beneficial services.

For more information on Occupational Therapy, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association's web site. Click on the "Consumers" section.