Because of Occupational Therapy I Can! October is National Occupational Therapy Month
Pictured Above: Occupational Therapists at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's Charlton Campus
Pictured Above: Occupational Therapists at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's West 5th Campus
Eating, cooking, getting dressed and tying our shoes are some of the necessary day-to-day activities we often don’t think twice about, but they can be extremely difficult for others to accomplish. Attaining the skills that are necessary for leading an independent and satisfying life are what St. Joe’s Occupational Therapists help our patients to achieve.
As an Occupational Therapist in the Day Therapy Department at the Charlton Campus, Shari Duxbury feels privileged to help patients work on tasks that are meaningful to them, “one of my patients goal was to return to her role of managing the household finances, and in order to do so she needed to be able to write in her book“. It was so rewarding to see the look of joy and accomplishment on her face when she could hold a pen and write her name and numbers; participation in meaningful roles and activities is what helps people achieve quality of life and maintain health,” shares Shari.
One of Shari’s patients who was faced with a high-level spinal cord injury had a goal of playing wheelchair tennis, but was unable to hold a tennis racquet. In collaboration with the patient, “together we designed a mitt he could independently put on that the tennis racquet could be taped to allowing him to take up his hobby of tennis,” says Shari.
For the month of October we will be sharing stories online about what some of our Occupational Therapists love most about their profession so visit us on Facebook and Twitter!
Twitter - @StJoesHamilton
Facebook - St. Joseph’s Healthcare and Foundation