Occupational Therapy helps you participate in the everyday activities that are important to you.
Your Community Health Occupational Therapists will work with you to improve your abilities or help you to change the activities or the environment you live in to better suit your needs. They will work with you so that you can do everyday activities more easily.
Our services are available for children and adults who have difficulties doing everyday activities that they need or want to do. We offer individual sessions, group sessions or home visits depending on your circumstances.
Children aged 0-6 years
This service is available to children aged 0-6 years who are not attending primary school and have mild to moderate delays in their development.
Occupational Therapy for children can help your child to:
- use their hands to draw, cut with scissors, pick up and manipulate small objects
- problem solve and complete puzzles
- be independent in getting dressed, eating and going to the toilet
- understand and process sensory information such as noise, movement, touch, taste, smell, vision
- build attention and concentration
- play
We will start with an appointment with you and your child to discuss their current abilities, make recommendations and develop a treatment plan.
Adults
Occupational Therapists work with adults who find it difficult to do the daily activities they want to, or need to. This may be as a result of disability, injury, ill health or age. They work with you in your own home as this is where we can best see how you are managing your daily activities.
Daily activities that we support you in, may include being able to:
- shower and dress
- move around your house safely
- use steps safely
- plan and prepare your meals and other domestic tasks
- get out of the house to do your shopping
- get out on public transport into the community
- participate in your hobbies and interests
- use specialised daily living equipment
The Occupational Therapist looks at how you do these activities and what problems you might have in doing them. They will talk with you about how to best manage your problems such as strengthening your muscles to reduce the risk of falls, finding a different way to do a particular activity or by using modified equipment.
Carer support
We can also assist carers by providing information and education resources, or by providing additional equipment.
Fees
We are pleased to offer free or low cost services to many clients. Fees are assessed based on income.