"Occupational Therapy? What is that?"
Just one type of questions was frequently asked to an Occupational Therapy's student. Epecially when I met a new acquaintance or even an old friend. Sorry to say, but an Occupational Therapist doesn't do a massage, acupuncture, or making an aroma therapy. *I will say no, say no ♪♬ (backsound by Tasya - Say No). We really really NOT do that things. -_- -_-.
I wonder why they're almost or even always correlate a 'therapist' word with a massage. Why? Why? Can you tell me? Well, okay.. in considering our partner, a physical therapist do a massage but not just an easy massage, man! they learnt about physiology, kinesiology etc. (me too) and dear, there's too much kind of therapy that you just can't simply correlating them into one thing. :'D
In Indonesia there are just two school/college that Occupational Therapy is avaliable in, which is Poltekkes Solo (under the Ministry of Health) and Universitas Indonesia (under the Ministry of Education and Culture). Because Occupational Therapy is a brand new thing in Indonesia then I think it's the reason why Occupational Therapy is less-familiar on you.
Back to Occupational Therapy (the doer called an Occupational Therapist), we're a part of medical rehabilitation team with physiatrists (a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic medicine), neuropsychology, nurse, physio therapy, and speech therapy.
Refers on WFOT (World Federation of Occupational Therapist), Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everday life or for the simply, we're help people with mental, physical or social disabilities to independently carry out everyday tasks or occupations.
Generally, our clients classified into four science of study. Which is paediatric (children-- most of them had affliction of growth and development. Ex: autisme, celebral palsy, down syndrome, etc.), geriatric (old age-- mainly caused by decrease of body function. Ex: osteoporosis, parkinson's desease, alzheimer's desease, etc.), psychosocial's problem (skizofrenia, drug's addiction: narcotic, alcohol, psycotropic, and depression), and physical rehabilitation (they had limitation. Ex: stroke, fracture, cancer, etc.)
You might wondering how we work. Are we givin' them a medicine? Are we teach them?. Okay, I'm gonna tell you..
The job description of an Occupational therapists are create individual treatment programmes to help people carry out their daily tasks and with more confidence and independence (assesment). They may suggest changes to the person's environment, whether that be at home, work or school, and may introduce the use of equipment which will help with some activities (planning & intervention) Then, an Occupational therapists review the treatments periodically, evaluate progress and make changes to the treatment as needed (cooperate).
On my deepest heart I dream of the balance between a doctor, healthcare practitioner and medical personnel (both in terms of quantity and public views). It's okay if you adore a doctor, a doctor wanna be or dreaming if someday you had a doctor in your life as a husband.. yeah, it's okay. Me too. #GakDeng #Canda but seriously, I'm gonna tell you that a doctor, a healthcare practitioner and a medical personnel are just like a married people. They complete and loving help each other. No wonder then if you found them into a real relations as a life partner. :3
Pssstt... Did you know that Occupational Therapy was one of 10 best career in United States of America at 2013? You'd better read this!: http://m.detik.com/finance/read/2013/04/25/103111/2229985/4/
Cheers!
Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia. July 3rd 2014
Diah Tri Puspita
An Occupational Therapy student
Sumber:
http://imani-prokami.org/selayang-pandang-okupasi-terapi/
http://www.wfot.org/aboutus/aboutoccupationaltherapy/definitionofoccupationaltherapy.aspx
https://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=3027
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/occupational_therapist_job_description.htm
