Stroke

Occupational therapy can help people who have had a stroke to regain some movement and live independently

Occupational therapy is an important part of almost every stroke rehabilitation programme. In fact there is evidence that patients who receive occupational therapy after a stroke are more likely to maintain or regain independence in daily life. Occupational therapists can:

• recommend equipment for the home that can help a person in completing tasks
• practise physical or mental skills through crafts and board games
• evaluate the home for safety hazards
• build a patient’s physical endurance and strength
• help compensate for vision and memory loss through the use of memory aids such as lists and diary
• provide activities to rebuild self-confidence for example being able to enjoy family meals using one hand

 
Occupational therapy usually starts with simple activities and then moves on to more complicated activities as the patient progresses.