What is Primary Care Occupational Therapy?
Primary Care Occupational Therapists are qualified health professionals who are trained to work with people of all ages, helping them to carry out the activities that they need or want to do in order to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
Primary Care Occupational Therapists help people overcome limitations caused by injury, illness, disability, psychological or emotional difficulties or the effects of ageing.
All our Primary Care Occupational Therapists are all CORU registered.
What do we mean by the term Occupation?
Occupation means anything a person does as part of their daily lives. Occupations may include anything from having a bath to driving a car. Occupation gives purpose and meaning to life.
Where do Primary Care Occupational Therapists work?
We work with people in their own homes, in primary care clinics and in residential units.
What does a Primary Care Occupational Therapy assessment involve?
We fully assess each person we work with to identify their individual abilities and needs through a mix of discussion, observation and formal assessments.
We may assess the person’s ability to:
- carry out daily living tasks such as dressing, cooking and shopping
- perform leisure interests and work needs
- take in, process and remember information
- move and transfer from one position to another
- position themselves during lying, sitting and while engaged in activities
- relieve pressure and prevent skin breakdown
- access their home and the local environment.
Based on the assessment findings, we plan a treatment programme with the person.
Why do some people need Primary Care Occupational Therapy services?
Occupational Therapists work with people to overcome problems that prevent them from doing things that are important to them.
Ways in which Occupational therapists work with a person, their families and carer:
- Re-learn skills - dressing or cooking as part of a continuing rehabilitation programme at home on return from hospital after a stroke.
- Adapt their home environment - when an older person has had repeated falls, advising on hazards in the home to help them continue living independently and safely.
- Improve their ability to take in and use information - using visual and memory prompts to help people in the early stages of dementia remember how and when to cook or take medication
- Explore hobbies and leisure needs - by helping someone to develop confidence when mixing in company again after a period of depression.
- Educate and support carers - showing the spouse or partner of a person with multiple sclerosis on how to use an electric hoist and correct the persons positioning to prevent pressure sores.
- Provide education and training in how to use enabling equipment - showing someone with cerebral palsy how to use their powered wheelchair within their home and workplace to improve their independence.
- Support a person to promote and protect their healthand well-being - provide group education on ways of managing stress.
How to contact Primary Care Occupational Therapy
You can contact Primary Care Occupational Therapy Dublin South directly by calling 01 708 5700 or you can be referred by your family, carer, doctor or another health professional using the Primary Care Referral Form.
Once you are referred to the service you may be placed on a waiting list.
Occupational Therapy Department, Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow Community Healthcare
City Lodge, The Meath Community Service
1-9 Heytesbury Street
Dublin 8
D08 Y1TW
Click on the links below for information on other Primary Care Occupational Therapy Services in your area
