What Does an Occupational Therapist Do in Home Health Care?

When your loved one comes home from the hospital or starts to struggle with daily tasks, you may hear the doctor mention occupational therapy. You might wonder what that means. The name can be confusing. Is it about finding a job? Does it help with work skills? Not quite. Occupational therapy, or OT, helps people do the basic things they need to do each day at home.

If your parent or spouse has had a stroke, a fall, or surgery, simple tasks may no longer feel simple. Getting dressed. Taking a bath. Making a meal. These things we all do without thinking can become hard or even scary. An occupational therapist comes to your home to help your loved one learn to do these tasks again, or to find new ways to do them safely.

What Occupational Therapy Really Means

The word "occupational" does not mean work in an office or factory. In this case, it means all the things that occupy your time each day. All the tasks that make up your life. For older adults, this includes getting out of bed, washing up, getting dressed, eating meals, moving around the house, and staying safe.

An occupational therapist looks at your loved one as a whole person. They ask what matters most to them. What do they want to be able to do? Maybe your mom wants to cook her own breakfast. Maybe your dad wants to be able to button his shirt. Maybe your spouse wants to garden again. The OT builds a plan around those goals.

This is not the same as physical therapy. Physical therapy focuses on getting stronger, walking better, and moving more. Occupational therapy focuses on using that strength and movement to do real tasks. Both are important. Many people in home health get both at the same time.

The First Visit

When the occupational therapist comes for the first visit, they spend time getting to know your loved one. They ask about their health history. They ask what medicines they take. They ask what they could do before and what feels hard now. This first visit takes longer than the others because the therapist needs to learn so much.

The therapist walks through your home with you. They look at the bathroom. Is the tub safe? Are there grab bars? Is the toilet too low? They look at the bedroom. Can your loved one get in and out of bed safely? They look at the kitchen. Can they reach what they need? Can they stand long enough to make food?

They also watch your loved one do tasks. They might ask them to stand up from a chair. To walk to the bathroom. To try to put on a shirt. They are not judging. They are learning where the problems are so they can help.

After this first visit, the therapist makes a plan. They set goals with your loved one. They decide how often to visit. Most people get OT visits once or twice a week for several weeks.

What the Therapist Works On

Each person's needs are unique. But there are some common things that occupational therapists help with in home health.

Getting dressed is often one of the first goals. After a stroke or injury, it can be hard to pull on pants, button buttons, or tie shoes. The therapist teaches tricks. They might show your loved one how to dress while sitting down so they do not lose their balance. They might bring tools that help, like a long stick with a hook to pull up socks, or a button hook that makes buttons easier.

Bathing is another big one. Many older adults are afraid of falling in the shower or tub. The therapist can suggest gear that helps. A shower chair so your loved one can sit while washing. A hand held shower head. Grab bars on the wall. Non slip mats on the floor. They also teach how to get in and out of the tub safely.

Cooking and eating may need work too. If your loved one has weak hands from arthritis or a stroke, they may drop things or have trouble opening jars. The therapist can bring special tools. Big handled forks and spoons that are easier to grip. Jar openers. Cutting boards with spikes to hold food in place. They also teach how to save energy so your loved one does not get too tired while cooking.

Moving around the house safely is crucial. The therapist looks for fall risks. Throw rugs that can slip. Cords across the floor. Poor lighting. Clutter in the halls. They help you fix these problems. They might suggest moving furniture to make a clear path. Adding lights. Taking up rugs.

If your loved one needs a walker or cane, the OT makes sure they know how to use it the right way. They teach how to go up and down steps. How to turn around. How to sit and stand. All while using the walker safely.

Memory and thinking skills matter too. Some older adults struggle to remember to take their pills. The therapist can set up a pill box with the week's medicine sorted out. They can teach your loved one to use lists and alarms. They can help organize the home so things are easier to find.

The Tools and Gear

Occupational therapists know about all kinds of helpful tools. Some are simple. A grabber tool with a long handle lets your loved one reach things on high shelves without climbing. A sock aid helps pull on socks without bending over. A raised toilet seat makes it easier to sit and stand.

Some tools are bigger. A shower bench. A bedside toilet. A hospital bed that can raise and lower. The OT can order this gear through your home health agency. Medicare or insurance often covers it.

The therapist does not just drop off the gear and leave. They teach your loved one how to use it. They make sure it fits right. They adjust it if needed. And they check back each visit to see if it is helping.

Making the Home Safer

Falls are a huge risk for older adults. A fall can lead to broken bones, a hospital stay, or worse. One of the main jobs of an OT is to cut the risk of falls.

They look at every room with fresh eyes. In the bathroom, they check if the tub is slippery. If there are grab bars to hold onto. If the bath mat stays in place. In the bedroom, they check if the bed is the right height. If the path to the bathroom at night is clear and lit. In the kitchen, they check if your loved one has to climb or reach too far for things they use often.

They give you a list of changes to make. Some are free. Moving a lamp. Taking up a rug. Some cost a bit. Buying a nightlight. Adding a grab bar. But these changes can stop a fall that would cost much, much more in pain and medical bills.

Teaching You, the Caregiver

The occupational therapist does not just work with your loved one. They work with you too. If you are the main caregiver, you need to know how to help safely. The therapist shows you the right way to do things.

How do you help your loved one stand up without hurting your back? How do you help them walk with a walker? How do you assist with dressing without doing it all for them? The therapist teaches you these skills.

They also help you understand when to step in and when to step back. Your instinct may be to do everything for your loved one. But that can make them weaker. The goal is for your loved one to do as much as they safely can. The therapist helps you find that balance.

How Long Does It Last?

Occupational therapy is not forever. It has a clear goal and an end point. Most people get OT for a few weeks to a few months. The therapist visits once or twice a week at first. As your loved one gets better, the visits may spread out.

The therapy ends when your loved one has met their goals, or when they have reached a plateau and are not getting better anymore. The therapist does not just stop coming. They make sure you have all the tools and skills you need to keep going on your own.

Before the last visit, the therapist will review everything. They will make sure all the safety changes are done. They will make sure your loved one knows how to use all their gear. They will answer any last questions you have. And they will tell you what signs to watch for that might mean your loved one needs help again later.

When Might Your Loved One Need OT?

Occupational therapy in home health is common after a few types of health events. After a stroke, people often need OT to relearn basic tasks. The stroke may have made one side weak or hard to control. OT helps them adjust and learn new ways to do things.

After a fall or broken bone, people may be afraid to move around. They may have lost strength while in the hospital. OT helps them regain confidence and strength for daily tasks.

After surgery, like a hip or knee replacement, people need to learn how to do things safely while they heal. OT teaches them how to dress, bathe, and move without bending or twisting in ways that could hurt the new joint.

For people with chronic illness like arthritis, heart failure, or lung disease, OT helps them save energy. They learn how to pace themselves. How to do tasks in easier ways. How to use tools that take less effort.

For people with memory problems or early dementia, OT helps set up systems to keep them safe and on track with daily tasks.

How to Get Started

If your doctor thinks your loved one could benefit from occupational therapy, they will write an order. The home health agency will then send an OT to your home. You do not have to go anywhere. The therapy happens right where your loved one lives.

At Coastal Home Health and Hospice, our occupational therapists have been helping families in Curry County for over 40 years. They know how to help people stay safe and independent at home. If you think OT might help your loved one, talk to their doctor or call us at 541-469-0405.

The Bottom Line

Occupational therapy in home health is about helping your loved one do the things that matter to them. It is about safety, independence, and quality of life. It is not about big, flashy goals. It is about the small, daily tasks that add up to a good life.

If your mom can make her own coffee in the morning, that is a win. If your dad can button his shirt by himself, that is a win. If your spouse can take a shower without fear of falling, that is a win. These small wins add up to a person who feels capable, safe, and more like themselves.

An occupational therapist brings skills, tools, and ideas to your home. They teach, they adjust, they solve problems. And when they are done, your loved one is better able to live well at home. That is what OT is all about.