Occupational Therapy Goals Example – Know More

Occupational Therapy is a global healthcare profession that helps individuals to gain strength after a chronic illness, sudden injury, or mental and physical disability. For people who suffer in performing day-to-day functions, Occupational therapy can help them overcome these obstacles. The major thing about the sessions should be growth. If a client having regular sessions with an occupational therapist does not see any progress in their condition, then maybe they need to change their approach. Know more about Occupational Therapy Goals Example 

Occupational Therapists help the clients to improve their physical strengths to reduce impairments and there are various examples to pursue them. The examples help patients to practice and learn practical techniques to perform simple tasks which they are unable to execute. Patients who are recovering from a major accident in life can be benefitted from these examples. Occupational therapy examples include cognitive as well as physical goals that can be achieved through systematic therapy sessions.

Examples of Occupational Therapy Goals:

Occupational therapy tends to aim at the physical goals to enhance the functioning during daily activities. Here is a list of goals and examples that can be followed for a better lifestyle.

1. Increasing attention span – This goal can be completed by paying undivided attention during lectures, studying, or watching a video or conversation.

2. Improving short memory span – Remembering lists and restoring memories can help in advancing through various sessions.

3. Refining social understanding – For people who don’t seem to understand non-verbal cues, it is important to set some goals for learning social cues. It helps in building distinctive social relationships and for normal functioning in society.

4. Meditation – Practicing mindfulness and allowing the mind to rest in peace can help improve mental stress. Everyone can set the goal to meditate for at least half an hour a day to remain stress-free.

5. Hand Grasping Techniques – As simple as grabbing an object can be a challenge for a patient of occupational therapy. Relying on physical strength and coordination can be one of the goals that are set for the clients. 

6. Walking – For regaining posture and leg strength, walking in a straight line can be termed a cognitive occupational therapy goal. It is highly difficult for a patient recovering from surgery to perform basic tasks like walking.

7. Enhancing coordination – Some physical attributes can be improved by looking forward to hand-eye coordination exercises. A lot of daily activities rely on the mind and body strength, they should be well-coordinated to perform simple tasks. Numerous exercises are available to improve on this.

8. Dressing up – Regularly changing into clothes can help improve physical stamina. To reduce strenuous activities, simply dressing can change the outlook of the mind and the body.

9. Employment – The main goal of a variety of patients is to be eligible to work at a place and enjoy their independence without staining anyone else. Long-term employment is one of the final goals to be achieved by a patient of occupational therapy.

10. Daily independence – Finding joy in doing simple tasks such as dining independently at a restaurant without the help of anyone can boost their confidence, thereby providing mental relief. 

SMART Framework to Set Goals:

Numerous occupational therapists follow a set of goals that form a routine in the life of the clients which thereby, improves their lifestyle. Commonly referred to as SMART goals, they help in setting the framework for successful sessions. 

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Reasonable
• Timely

By applying this acronym as a guide, you can make sure that your goals contain relevant information. Patients tend to follow the process to achieve their goals and feel motivated to complete all the sessions with dignity.

How is Occupational Therapy different from Physical Therapy? :

Occupational therapy can be often correlated to Physical therapy as they share the same parent techniques. Physical therapy is frequently used for patients who want to re-learn how to move their muscles while Occupational therapy helps the clients to improve their physical strength for natural, household activities. Physical therapy focuses more on the patients who are severely injured due to an unfortunate accident while Occupational therapy helps in regaining the physical strength for basic chores. Majorly, they both have the same end goal but they differ in the vastness of each subject. 

Conclusion:

A lot of patients of occupational therapy request to follow numerous goals that help them achieve mental and body stability. The above goals and examples might not seem strenuous, but the toll of physical impairment is not easy to deal with. Following these goals can help patients as well as the therapists in improving their lifestyle choices. To improve the daily functioning of a person, the goals can help reduce mental stress and help the close relatives of a patient to live hassle-free.

FAQ:

1. What are specific goals examples?

• A specific goal might be subjective to each person. It might be picking up an object or losing 5 pounds for a different person.

2. What are occupational therapy’s mentioned goals?

• The practice of occupational therapy focuses on the maintenance of health, prevention of disability, and improvement of participation in occupations after illness, accident, or disability.

3. Why would I go to an occupational therapist?

• If you have physical pain while you do daily activities like schoolwork, household chores, caring for yourself, or moving around, then you might go to an occupational therapist.