Occupational Therapy Month: ‘Helping you get back to being you’
April is Occupational Therapy (OT) Month, a time to celebrate the work of occupational therapists and build awareness of the field of OT. This year’s theme is “Enriching lives through meaningful engagement.”
The American Occupational Therapy Association explains the field as “a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to participate in daily living or live better with injury, illness, or disability.” However, there is often some confusion about the word ‘occupational.’
Tammy Lane, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), who works at Brio Living Services’ Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, says the residents often tell her, “I don’t need a job.’’ “I describe OT as working holistically, in every facet of your life, to get you back to being you,” says Tammy.
In her role, Tammy works primarily with people in short-term rehabilitation, but she and the Kresge OT team also work with long-term skilled nursing residents and in an “out-patient” capacity for Chelsea Retirement Community’s assisted and independent living residents. Tammy is also a certified lymphedema therapist.
OT is a second career for Tammy, who had been a hair stylist and owned her own salon. “I wanted to do more for people, so I decided to go back to school.” Her aunt, who was also an OT, suggested she take a class. “That was me,” she says. “My aunt says this is what I was born to do. I think she is right. A lot of what I do are things I have been doing my whole life.”
A registered OT (OTR) sets the goals for each resident, which may include Activities of Daily Living, or ADLs like dressing and bathing, to Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), which include preparing meals and maintaining the home. The COTAs determine creative ways to reach those goals. Tammy likes the creativity of OT. “I get to play for a living, be creative, and make things fun for the residents. Making people laugh and feel good is all part of the healing. I find out what they like to do in their home and help them be able to accomplish that.
“I really love what I do and helping people help themselves,” says Tammy who has worked at Kresge for 10 years. “It’s very rewarding when you can see someone make a huge difference, from not being able to feed themselves when they first arrive from the hospital to Rehabilitation, to regaining their independence.”
Brio’s PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) Centers also employ occupational therapists to work with participants. Karmin Orsburn is an OTR at PACE of Southwest Michigan in St. Joseph where she has worked for seven years. Karmin says, “I think of OT as the discipline to get you back to what you need to do in life—whether an actual occupation, or getting back to cooking and cleaning, bathing and dressing. There is some crossover with physical therapy, but with more of a focus on self-care.”
As part of the PACE Interdisciplinary team, Karmin meets regularly with the entire care team to discuss the needs of each PACE participant. “Everyone gets a say in the participant’s care, and we help each other better understand where they are and what challenges they may be facing.
“I absolutely love the PACE model,” Karmin says. “There is more freedom than in other healthcare models to provide the personal care each participant needs. I may see participants in the Day Center or provide a home visit, where I get the satisfaction of seeing where their furniture and bed are, notice potential risks, and how I can best help the participant live as independently as possible in their own home.”
Karmin enjoys working with the adults at PACE. “Most of them have lived a full life and want to be seen as still important. I get to help provide that love and support, as well as the equipment they need, such as a wheelchair or walker, to make them feel supported and not forgotten. Our participants are so appreciative of PACE. I often hear ‘you can help me with that?!’”
For anyone interested in pursuing a career in OT, Karmin says, “It’s a great field. OT will appeal to the creative personality, but also someone who can be flexible. It’s not always done in a traditional way but requires you to think outside the box. Anything from a deck of cards, to a chair, to a clothespin can be tools for an occupational therapist.”
Learn more about how you can pursue a career you’ll love in OT or an assortment of other fields at Brio Living Services.
Thank you to @Midwestern Consulting, Inc., a Live Life with Brio Campaign Silver Sponsor! We are grateful for your dedication to the older adults we serve and our team members.
