Reliance Therapy

Come on out to our Yard Sale this Friday and Saturday! We really do have a little bit of everything!

Hope to see you there 😄

E is for Employment!

Where Do Occupational Therapists Work?
​One of the unique features of therapy services, and more specifically occupational therapy, is the variety of settings in which a therapist can work. Occupational therapists are employed in a variety of locations. Each location presents a different populations and varying challenges and deficits for the therapist to address.

1. Skilled Nursing/Assisted Living Facility/Retirement Community: In this setting an OT would work with residents in performing ADLs and IADLs such as cooking, medication management, bathing, and dressing. The therapist will also work with clients to continue participating in the activities that they enjoy.

2. Schools: Occupational therapists in the school setting work with students who diagnosed with learning disabilities or impairments. Interventions for students can incorporate different elements such as bilateral hand coordination, fine motor coordination, and executive functioning skills among others. Each intervention is designed to optimize the student’s ability to participate in school.

3. Home Health: Therapists in this setting will travel to a patient’s home for continuation of care after a hospital stay and work with them on maintaining their independence. This can often include working on daily activities such as cooking or cleaning or participating in activities like routines, self-management skills, and medication adherence to promote the health of the individual.

4. Hospitals: The occupational therapist who work in this acute care setting see a variety of diagnosis and symptoms. Patients are evaluated for strength, function, and mobility. Based off the evaluation, the OT will make a recommendation for a rehabilitation facility depending on the severity of the condition and the impairment of the individual. Interventions performed in this setting often revolve around bed mobility, transfers to the chair and toilet, personal hygiene, and endurance.

5. Acute and Sub-acute Rehabilitation Centers: In acute rehab, a patient will receive intensive therapy while recovering from a medical incident. This rehab is typically three or more hours a day of core therapies including OT, PT, and speech. A patient in sub-acute rehab will receive less than 3 hours of therapy a day making it less intense. These settings seek to return the patient to function. The average length of stay in these settings ranges from 1-2 weeks but can be more depending on the involvement of the patient’s condition.

6. Outpatient: Outpatient services are for patients who are medically stable, independent or receive help with ADLs, can drive, and are not considered home bound. An OT in this setting can specialize in neuro outpatient therapy, hand therapy, or lymphedema therapy.