Since I was young, I always knew I would pursue a career where I would help people. I was not sure what that career would be for a long time. When I was 16, my grandfather had a stroke and had to stay in a rehabilitation centre for a while. I did not know of Occupational therapy until that day. When visiting him in the rehabilitation centre, I saw the professionals working to rehabilitate him. I initially thought physical therapy would accommodate my career goals until I witnessed the occupational therapist helping my grandfather. I remember her working with my grandfather and how he regained all his abilities after the sessions. After that, I realised I found the career I would pursue. It was even better when I realised occupational therapy addressed the importance of patients’ physical needs, psychological, and emotional wellness. Thereafter, I pursued the necessary courses to achieve that dream. I find it better being a health care professional who can spend time with my patients helping them and improving their quality of life in different aspects. I believe occupational therapy is one of the holistic health care professions and I am glad I chose this career path. The profession requires compassion, sensitivity, and understanding, which I value.
Occupational therapists and their assistants help patients of different ages participate in things they need and want to do through the therapeutic use of day-to-day activities. The most common occupational therapy activities include helping people recover from injuries, providing support for adults experiencing cognitive and physical changes, and helping children with disabilities participate in school and other social situations. Occupational therapy services basically include individualised evaluation of clients and their families where a patient’s individual goals are determined (AOTA). It includes customised evaluation to improve a patient’s ability to reach the set goals and perform daily activities. Also, it includes evaluation of outcomes to ensure the goals are met and relevant changes made to the intervention plan. The services may extend to comprehensive evaluations of the patients’ environment like in school or at home and make recommendations for necessary training and adaptive equipment. Additionally, occupational therapists provide education to family members and patients’ caregivers. Occupational therapy is considered a holistic practice that focuses on adapting an environment to fit the patient and ensuring the patient is an integral part of the therapy (AOTA).
One of the main reasons for choosing occupational therapy is the difference made when this form of patient care is integrated with other health care aspects. For instance, the practice has made a huge difference in mental health. Today, occupational therapy professionals provide services in different community settings, including correctional facilities, psychosocial houses, after-school programs and community mental health care centres. The services of people with mental illnesses have shifted from hospitals to the community with more focus on incorporating the recovery model (AOTA). Evidence shows that occupational therapy interventions at the community level improve the outcomes for the people living with mental illnesses. Occupational therapy addresses barriers of different illnesses or conditions. The practice addresses barriers like stigma, socioeconomic status, and safety. The occupational therapy interventions address issues of self-care, prevention of victimization, and accessing support services.
It will be difficult to juggle work, school, and family life. However, I intend to accomplish my goal on succeeding in this career. To do so, I will require a time management plan to ensure I meet that goal. The first step is identifying and clarifying my goals. In this case, my goal is having a successful career in occupational therapy. Identifying this goal establishes my commitment to the process, especially during difficult times. The next step is identifying the study program suitable and flexible for my needs. For instance, I should be able to change my classes and take lessons at different times from other events in my life, such as more classes during the week when other people in my life are busy and fewer classes during the weekends to spend time with them (Contrada). During this time, I intend to involve important people in my life in the planning. Involving them makes it easier to gain their support during this time and for them to step in for me if the need arises. To maintain a support system, it is important that I show up for them when planned. Being this busy, it is easy to have an overlap of responsibilities with conflicting times. To avoid this, I intend to use a calendar where I will note all important events, including classes, exams, and social events. Also, I will place a reminder of these events to ensure I do not miss out or I am not prepared for them. With such a schedule, the worst thing would be procrastination. I intend to ensure I complete my scheduled activities on time.
In conclusion, as explained, occupational therapy is a dream career for me. I believe the integration of occupational therapy to other aspects of health care has led to the improvement of patient care. Also, it caters for patients when they are at a community level after leaving hospitals. It is a way for people to transition to their normal life after an illness or injury. It is my aim to succeed in this career path and the implementation of the time management plan will help with this.
Works Cited
Contrada, Joan A. “Top 10 Tips for Juggling Family, Work, and Grad School.” College Express-Carnegie Communications, 2016. Web. Retrieved from http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/life-grad-student/top-10-tips-juggling-family-work-and-grad-school/
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). “Occupational Therapy: Improving Function While Controlling.” AOTA, 2016. Web. Retrieved from http://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy/Professionals.aspx
