Occupational therapists often work directly with patients and their healthcare teams to improve quality of life and independence. As COVID-19 continues to force populations into self-isolation and businesses to close, delivering services and solutions to individuals has become challenging. However, occupational therapy continues to be a necessity in hospitals and at home.
Gertrude Robertson is an occupational therapist based in Brooklyn, New York. She is passionate about delivering top care to her clients. Considering the recent pandemic, Robertson, among her fellow occupational therapists, is finding new and creative ways to work with those in need.
“It’s important to understand that occupational therapy is not limited to the workplace,” says Robertson. “That’s a common misconception.” An occupation is a task that a patient or individual wants or needs to perform and can range anywhere from getting dressed in the morning, walking, working, and even participating in leisure activities. Occupational therapists are often on hand for those who have experienced a life change such as a stroke or head injury resulting in loss of movement or cognitive ability. “Even amid this global health crisis, people continue to experience heart attacks, injuries, and other ailments that necessitate a change in their everyday actions in order to adapt,” says Robertson. “And that’s where occupational therapists come in.”
The New York City Healthcare System During COVID-19
The New York City healthcare system, including Brooklyn, has been hit hard by the pandemic. Staff is spread thin and it’s become more important than ever to make as many resources available as possible. One incredibly important role occupational therapist play is in preparing patients for discharge and returning home. After significant medical trauma, it can be difficult to adapt to home life again. Occupational therapists are highly trained professionals who can help identify not only necessary but meaningful, occupations in a patient’s life and give them the tools and strategies they need to perform those occupations.
Patients who can return to their passions upon discharge from hospital are significantly less likely to be readmitted for related struggles, states a study in the journal Medical Care Research and Review. For Robertson, making sure patients can safely and confidently return home with the ability to perform meaningful occupations again helps reduce the stress on the medical system in the city, aiding other health care professionals in their fight against the virus.
The Challenges of Social Distancing
Of course, for occupational therapists whose focus is on patients and clients already at home, social distancing has become a new hurdle. “Occupational therapists take a holistic view,” says Robertson. “Which means providing clients with the resources they need to cope. That can include resources for mental health and community.” Social isolation facilitates feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and a general lack of motivation, particularly in individuals recovering or adjusting to a new way of life as a result of stoke or injury for example.
While occupational therapists are not psychologists or therapists for mental illness, they are equipped with the knowledge to refer clients to appropriate services. In cases where in-person visits to a client’s home are not necessary, many occupational therapists are turning to technology in order to provide their services, refer clients to resources, and continue to deliver personalized, human-centred care. “Because of this attention to detail and focus on the human experience of a client, occupational therapists are sometimes the first to notice the signs of mental illness in patients,” says Robertson. “Therefore, continuing to provide our services during this pandemic, whether over the phone or by video conference for example, is essential to our clients”.
Facilitating Collaboration During a Pandemic
Among professionals in the field, restrictions put in place to protect populations and flatten the curve are also affecting how occupational therapists’ network, continue their education, and maintain an open dialogue between colleagues. In response to these concerns, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists has started a free online forum for practitioners, students, and educators. This platform is meant to facilitate collaboration, answer questions regarding the changes brought on by the pandemic and offer a sense of community among Occupational Therapists. It is available through the Occupational Therapy International Online Network.
Much like other professions, occupational therapists are adapting to necessary social distancing. Leveraging telehealth and their extensive training in adaptive technology and thinking, events and training that would normally require large gatherings are being cancelled. For example, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists has cancelled their 2020 conference. Instead, they are preparing to offer an online event. Other associations and institutions are expected to follow to reduce travel, social contact, and ultimately the transmission of the virus. For students and therapists continuing their education, many formal classes are being shifted to online platforms as well.
Many organizations, including the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic is quickly altering how many of us experience everyday life. Occupational therapists worldwide are working together and with their patients to mitigate the effects of isolation and adapt to life changes such as working from home, business closures, and activity cancellations. They are supporting communities by providing information, resources, and strategies for coping while contributing to the frontlines by assisting patients in the transition from hospital to home, thereby freeing up medical resources in the hardest hit locations.
For Gertrude Robertson, occupational therapists are needed now more than ever. Providing top of the line, holistic, and human-centric care has always been her passion. In these uncertain times, learning to cope, adapt, and play to your strengths is essential and that’s where an occupational therapist like Robertson can help, with expertise and compassion.
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