Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy promotes wellness and independence in all areas of self-care, work and leisure.
Our occupational therapy services focus on our client’s physical, cognitive, emotional strengths and barriers to participate in their everyday activities.
Assessments are completed in the home, school, workplace or community. The goal of our intervention is to identify and implement required supports, education, equipment, and/or technology to increase our client’s safety, mobility and independence in personal care, activities of daily living, and employability.
Our occupational therapists are skilled in providing intervention across the lifespan, from infants to older adults who have a wide range of conditions, such as: chronic pain, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, orthopedic and/or soft tissue injuries, mental health conditions, dementia and chronic illnesses.
Following completion of our comprehensive assessment, our therapists work with their clients and their families to determine the best plan of intervention to meet their functional goals.
Occupational Therapy Services
Hospital Discharge Assessment and Coordination
Our occupational therapists meet clients in the hospital to assess their personal care needs and develop a discharge plan to their home or respite care. Our therapists coordinate with the funding source to obtain necessary supports and equipment upon discharge, and follow up with the client in their home/respite facility to ensure a safe transition.
In-Home Assessment and Treatment
Our occupational therapists assess clients in their home to evaluate their ability to perform the essential tasks of daily living within their home environment. Activities evaluated may include housekeeping, childcare, home maintenance, mobility, personal care and leisure – or any other key activity important to our client’s life. Skills such as symptom management for physical, cognitive and psychological injuries will be assessed. The goal is the safe resumption of pre-injury activities with proper aids/devices and education.
Attendant Care Assessment (Form 1)
Our occupational therapists can complete this standardized assessment of an injured person’s ability to perform their basic and essential personal care activities and their safety within the home environment as a result of their physical, cognitive, or psychological injuries arising from a motor vehicle accident. A Form 1 is completed to itemize the activities and associated costs of the individual’s required assistance.
Physical and Cognitive Demands Analysis:
Our occupational therapists assess the essential physical and cognitive components of any given job, providing a generic overview of all requirements for any person required to do this work. Areas assessed include: physical strength, coordination and cognitive skills such as memory, organization, conflict management and problem solving. This assessment aids our occupational therapists in determining suitability to return to work.
Worksite Ergonomic Assessment
A Worksite Assessment integrates a comprehensive Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) with an analysis of the individual’s medical and functional restrictions/limitations in relation to their work environment, and the required job processes, methods and equipment. The assessment includes recommendations relating to ergonomics and/or modifications for a safe, gradual return to work or to maintain employment.
Return to Work Planning
Our occupational therapists liaise between clients and employers to develop an individualized graduated return to work program. This may include a structured program designed to increase our client’s tolerance for the physical and cognitive demands associated with a return to work. Through this graduated approach, the client regains the necessary strength and stamina to return to pre-accident employment with appropriate aids/devices or job modifications.
Assistive Devices Program (ADP) Assessments for Mobility aids
Our on-staff ADP authorizers can assist clients with mobility needs to choose appropriate devices (e.g., walker, scooter, manual or power wheelchair), and apply for funding through the ADP program, which is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services
Injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident can limit or prevent children from participating in their daily activities, including play, self-care, school and social activities. These activities are important for child development, and enable children to successfully prepare for adult roles.
For other children, delays in development of fine motor, visual perception or sensory processing skills can also impact on daily activities. While publicly funded services exist to address these needs, many families find the waitlist for these services to be too long and the service duration too short to create meaningful lasting change for their children.
Private occupational therapy services for children can help them return to their daily activities, thereby assisting children to prepare for and achieve their full potential in life roles. A thorough assessment, personalized intervention, family support and consultation services are all components of the occupational therapy programming for children available.
Occupational Therapists specializing in pediatrics can address many areas including: sensory and behaviour strategies, fine motor skill development, social skills, organization and memory, education and vocational planning, attendant care needs, and environmental adaptations.
Eldercare – Aging in place
Many of our clients seek assistance to enable them to safely and independently continue to live in their residences. Our occupational therapists assess client mobility, cognitive needs and safety providing recommendations for goods or services to ensure they can age in place.
Specialized Occupational Therapy Services
Physical and Cognitive Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
A Functional Capacity Evaluation is an assessment that identifies an individual’s ability to perform activities safely and determines functional impairments to be resolved or accommodated in relation to activities of daily living or work tolerances. Our occupational therapists will tailor their assessment to focus on the physical, cognitive, and/or psychosocial effects of an injury or illness, and the specific job or task demands, as required.
Progressive Goal Attainment Program® (PGAP®)
Our trained PGAP® providers can assess whether our client may benefit from the PGAP® program and complete this 10-week life-role reintegration program. PGAP® targets psychosocial risk factors for disability across a wide range of injuries and illnesses, including: chronic pain, post-cancer fatigue, chronic health conditions, depression, and psychological injuries in both military and civilian populations. The primary goals of the PGAP® program are to improve quality of life through participation in structured goal setting, guided problem solving, and engagement
Life Care Planning / Future Care Cost Assessment
Our Occupational Therapists and Canadian Certified Life Care Planners (CCLCP) complete this medical-legal assessment, for individuals who have sustained serious and permanent personal injuries. This assessment and report will identify current and future needs for medical and rehabilitation treatments, personal care supports, equipment, and services such as homemaking to assist them in returning to their pre-injury lifestyle. This includes an extensive in-home assessment with the client, review of medical and treatment history, and consultation with their rehabilitation providers to develop a comprehensive picture of the current and anticipated future needs of the client.
Housing Assessment
At times, as the result of an illness or injury, changes to the home environment may be required to improve safety and independence. Our occupational therapists, working together with skilled local contractors, can assist with determining required changes in the physical home environment to assist our clients in remaining in their home, and develop a plan to meet those needs. This may involve modifications to one area of the home, such as an entrance, bathroom or kitchen, or it may involve a re-design of the entire home, depending on our client’s needs and the structure of the existing residence.
Glasgow Outcome Scale – Extended (GOS-E) Assessment
Our therapists are trained in both the standard GOS and GOS-Extended assessments, used for determining benefit eligibility for adults with acquired brain injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident. These assessments are completed in home and community and include an in-home and functional assessment, standardized clinical and functional testing, and medical history review. Interview with a trusted family member/caregiver and consultation with rehabilitation providers are optional, and may provide additional information to assist in a thorough assessment of the client’s abilities and support needs to best determine benefit eligibility.
Contact Us Today
To speak to an occupational therapist or to book an assessment at home, work or school contact us.