Celebrating Occupational Therapy Week 2023

OT Week 2023 is all about explaining what occupations are in the context of occupational therapy.

What do we mean by ‘occupation’?

In occupational therapy, an occupation is any activity that we need, want or like to do, which helps us look after our physical and mental health, and our emotional and spiritual wellbeing. We do occupations from the moment we are born, on our own or with others.

Occupation isn’t just your job or activities of daily living. An occupation can be self-care (such as washing, eating or sleeping) productive (such as work, study, caring or domestic activities) and leisure, (such as playing sports, hobbies or socialising).

Why do occupations matter?

Occupations are essential to living. They give our lives meaning, purpose and structure. They help shape who we are, connect us with others and help create our identity and sense of belonging. Through occupation we enhance our health and quality of life.

Focusing on occupation leads to improvements in our ability to do the things we need and want to do, our social relationships, communication and connections as well as our mood, rest and sleep.

Occupational therapy puts quality into your life.

Occupational therapists see beyond a person’s diagnoses and limitations and focus on people’s hopes and aspirations. They look at relationships between your occupations, the challenges you face and your environment.

Occupational therapy helps you live your best life at home, at work – and everywhere else.

Our Occupational Therapy (OT) Teams

At Optalis you might get support from an OT if you:

• are being supported by our Reablement Teams, helping you to recover or cope after a decline in health, an injury or an illness.
• have a disability, are elderly or have a long-term illness and have been in touch with our Social Work teams. Our Occupational Therapists can offer advice and support to make it easier for you to live independently.

For more information visit rcot.co.uk/occupation.