Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy aims to help you to achieve your independence in activities that are important to you. This may be getting washed or dressed, preparing a meal, socialising with family and friends, or a hobby such as gardening.

Maintaining your independence

People’s quality of life can be greatly affected by a life-limiting illness; not only through physical symptoms, but emotionally, socially and psychologically. Life becomes about medical appointments, and the assumption that quality of life is about absence of pain or symptoms. In fact, it’s so much more than that. Being able to do the things we enjoy, spending time with the people we love and going to the places that make us happy all have a huge impact on our quality of life, but are often overlooked.

We provide occupational therapy to patients as part of our Living Well programme. We can offer support and education around the practical aspects of managing your symptoms, and help you build skills and wellbeing through activity groups. We also prescribe equipment for you to use in the Hospice or at home, and make recommendations of adaptations to enable you to be as independent as possible.

Frequently asked questions

I don’t work – why do I need an occupational therapist?

An occupation is any activity that we need, want or like to do, to live and to look after our physical and mental health, and our emotional and spiritual wellbeing. We do occupations from the moment we’re born, on our own or with others. Occupations aren’t just your job or activities of daily living. An occupation can be self-care, such as washing, eating or sleeping. It might be productive, such as work, study, caring or domestic activities, or for leisure, such as playing a sport, pursuing a hobby or socialising.

Why do occupations matter?

Occupations are essential to living. They give our lives meaning, purpose and structure. They help shape who we are, connect us with others and create a sense of belonging. Through occupation we enhance our health and quality of life.

Focusing on occupation leads to improvements in our ability to do the things we need and want to do, our social relationships, communication and connections as well as our mood, rest and sleep.

Occupations are particularly important when we’re going through times of change. When we can’t do an occupation anymore or we need to adjust the way we do it, because of ill health or other barriers, our sense of self and purpose may change. This is where occupational therapy comes in.

What does an occupational therapist do?

An occupational therapist helps people of all ages overcome challenges in completing everyday tasks or activities – what we call ‘occupations’.

Occupational therapists see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations. They look at relationships between the activities you do every day, alongside the challenges you face and your environment.

Working with you, our occupational therapists will create a plan of goals and adjustments targeted at achieving a specific set of activities. The plan is practical, realistic and personal to you as an individual, to help you achieve the breakthroughs you need to elevate your everyday life.

This support can give people a renewed sense of purpose. It can also open up new opportunities and change the way people feel about the future.