The College of Occupational Therapists has partnered with Parkinson’s UK, the support and research charity, to produce best practice guidelines for occupational therapists working with people with Parkinson’s. The publication, Occupational therapy for people with Parkinson's, has been created to help OTs develop a deeper understanding of the condition and how therapy can best help patients with Parkinson’s.

People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells in their brain have died. Without it people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things. This can make everyday activities, such as eating, getting dressed, or using a phone or computer, difficult or frustrating.

OTs help people with Parkinson’s to carry out every day tasks, by helping them to overcome their symptoms where possible, and the guide aims to provide a thorough overview of OT for people with Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s UK’s National Education Advisor, Daiga Heisters, commented: ‘We were delighted to work with the College of Occupational Therapists to develop this guide, which places the person with Parkinson’s, and their family or carers, at the centre of all OT. OT can make a real and positive impact on the day-to-day life of many people with Parkinson’s but there is currently no detail of how to conduct OT for people with Parkinson’s in the NICE guidelines.

“We hope this guide will help OTs working with people with Parkinson’s so they can give them the best possible care and help them maintain better health and retain their independence.”

Julia Skelton, Director of Professional Operations at The College of Occupational Therapists said: ‘I welcome these guidelines, as they highlight the significant contribution the occupational therapy profession offers to the care and wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s. It will be an invaluable resource for all OTs practising in the UK.’

Jill Kings, Consultant Practitioner, Neurological Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation and Ana Aragon, Independent Occupational Therapist, agreed: ‘These guidelines capture the best in contemporary clinical practice and combines it with what we know so far from the evidence out there. We hope that anyone who accesses this publication will be clear about the treatments that work and the opportunities and choices that are available for people living with Parkinson’s.’

The guidelines have been developed from available evidence, best practice agreed by consensus and informed by the opinions and experiences of people with Parkinson’s. The guidelines are structured to allow easy application in clinical practice. The guidelines include an overview of Parkinson’s, including  medical and surgical interventions measuring Parkinson’s and the impact of Parkinson’s on occupational performance. Four key areas highlight easy to apply best practice guidelines and include specific strategies for initiating and maintaining movement, optimizing activities, supporting participation and end of life care.

Download or purchase a hard copy of Occupational therapy for people with Parkinson's: Best Practice guidelines