Amanda, an Occupational Therapist at Extendicare Eaux Claires in Edmonton, Alberta, shared with us a glimpse into a day in her life supporting residents and what it means to her to help people live better.
What inspired you to pursue a career in occupational therapy?
I was always drawn to health care, but I also knew I wanted a career that would not feel the same every day. That’s what ultimately drew me to Occupational Therapy. It is such a dynamic field, with many opportunities to work with different populations, develop diverse skill sets, and work in various roles focusing on physical, cognitive, and/or psychosocial health aspects. OT felt like the perfect fit, as it challenges me to grow and adapt as a clinician while having a meaningful impact on the lives of others.
What does a typical day look like for you in a long-term care home?
Every day looks different, but typically I will start the morning off with a team discussion about what referrals or priorities need to be addressed. Most days are focused on assessments, some of the common ones being new admission assessments, wheelchair or other equipment positioning evaluations, supporting edema management, therapy re-evaluation, resident footwear review, and falls prevention initiatives, while some days focus on interdisciplinary team or family meetings to follow up on specific resident care plans.
How would you describe the value of Occupational Therapy in long-term care to someone unfamiliar with it?
Occupational therapy in long-term care assists residents to maintain their current level of functioning for as long as possible to ensure dignity and quality of life. OTs focus on what matters to each individual, whether that be maintaining physical comfort levels, navigating walking or rolling safely so the resident can access all areas of the home with little or no assistance, or supporting their fine motor skills so they can continue small but meaningful activities of daily living like eating independently.
How do residents benefit from the support of an OT?
OT’s can support a resident’s ability to maintain or improve their current abilities in order to work towards functional goals that are most meaningful to them. Often when residents move to long-term care, they are at their most vulnerable and may feel a loss of dignity and ability to be self-sufficient. It is our goal to reduce these feelings by allowing them supporting opportunities to work on the areas that are most important.
This could include assisting residents with maintaining their balance and mobility to support their independence in personal care, providing adaptive utensils to help during meal times, or fitting them to an appropriate wheelchair so they mobilize freely on their own to attend activities or enjoy outings with family members.
Thank you, Amanda, and all the amazing Occupational Therapists across Canada, for providing Extendicare residents with the care they need, wherever they call home.