OT Degrees

Over the last few weeks I have blogged on what it's like beginning with an occupational therapy degree, and activities for children and geriatrics that make therapy more enjoyable. The purpose for my blog this week is  to discuss pursuing an occupational therapy program, and where you should begin. This blog is dedicated to the students out there who share a passion for occupational therapy (OT) and are having doubts or questions.

For many after graduation deciding which path to follow is one of the toughest decisions you’ll ever have to make. It is difficult for several varied reasons which include, mobility, financial stability, location, and personal happiness. If you are interested in pursuing an occupational therapy program there are many great schools out there who can meet your personal needs and many opportunities job wise. When looking at the many different programs, it is important to take several factors into consideration such as cost, education, and feasibility. When looking to pursue a career there are many different opportunities from working in a nursing home, hospital, schools, home health, or private practices. I hope by reading this blog you will have a better understanding of where you would like to attend an OT program and how pursue that perfect career.

To begin I feel it is important to have a  proper understanding of what occupational therapists do on a day to day basis. I feel many people get occupational therapy confused with other professions. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.  “Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.”1 It is also important to understand the prerequisites and the GPA requirements of the program in which you are wanting to attend. These may differ depending on the school you are interested in so it is crucial that you find this information out before applying. It is also important to remember that all states require occupational therapists to be licensed. These requirements can differ depending on the state, but all require candidates to pass the exam by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Once licensed you must also take continuing education classes to maintain this certification.

Occupational therapy employment is growing at a constant rate and is projected to continue growing throughout the years. Due to occupational therapy being in the medical field there will always be a need for therapists. When looking to pursue a career there are many different opportunities to pursue from working in a nursing home, school, hospital, home health, or private practice. All of these are highly rewarding careers.

Once you choose a path down occupational therapy the second thing you need to do is figure out which school program works best for you. “These are the top occupational therapy schools in the United States. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions”. 2

Top schools:2

1. Boston University- 4.6
2. Washington University in St. Louis- 4.6
3. University of Southern California- 4.5
4. University of Illinois- Chicago- 4.3
5. Colorado State University- 4.1
6. Tufts University- Boston School of Occupational Therapy- 4.1
7. Thomas Jefferson State University- 4.1
8. University of Kansas Medical Center- 4.0
9. Columbia University- 3.9
10. New York University- 3.8

It is always important to compare programs when you have an idea of where you would like to attend, according to the website Gotta Be OT “once you narrowed it down to several programs you might want to attend, make a chart and write in each program. Then compare them across the following areas, prioritizing whatever factors are most important to you. If you have a lot of debt and want to attend a cheaper program, give the less expensive option more “points.” If you want to go to one of the most highly ranked programs out there, assign more value to the big name schools. Balance out your options and then get started on filling out your chart.”3

Although it is not always feasible it may be helpful to visit the colleges with the program in which you wish to attend. However, you can always gather as much information about the college as possible. There are always resources available online via the school in which you are wanting to apply that you can study or print off to help you make a decision.  Below is a list of some things you should take into consideration whenever you are trying to decide on a program.4

1. Accreditation
2. Location
3. Admissions rate
4. Graduation rate
5. Program cost
6. Classroom size
7. Internship availability
8. Campus facilities
9. Job placement rates

This list is pretty extensive therefore, once you do the research on each place, begin narrowing it down to your personal needs by the examples listed above such as price, feasibility, personal needs, etc. I hope by reading my blog you have a better understanding on what occupational therapy is and how to go about finding the perfect program that suits you! If you have any questions or comments feel free to comment in the feedback section of my blog.

References

1 What is Occupational Therapy?. (2017). Retrieved February 23, 2017, from http://www.aota.org/education-careers/advance-career/board-specialty-certifications.aspx

2 Occupational Therapy. (2016). Retrieved April 26, 2017, from www.usnews.com

3 Jones, L. (2017, January 3). Gotta Be OT. Retrieved March 26, 2017, from www.gottabeot.wordpress.com

4 15 Things to Consider When Choosing a College. (2016). Retrieved March 30, 2017, from http://www.collegequest.com/things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-college.aspx

Better Quality, Better You

In the geriatric population, both injuries and diseases can play a major part on one’s muscle strength and coordination and can cause them to need occupational therapy. However, sometimes individuals with skills already such as bathing, brushing their hair, walking, and eating can use the therapy to help them remain independent or do things in life that they enjoy. It is important to understand the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy when it comes to the elderly population, because many may be recommended to see both. “An easy way to remember the occupational therapy (OT) specialty is that it is about the technical execution of daily activities: OT’s help clients perform daily functions or “occupations”. Occupational therapy tends to be more focused on improving life skills and often involves adaptive tools that lead to a better quality of life. A physical therapist, on the other hand, works with a person to improve mobility. They are more likely to treat the physical source of the injury: damaged tissues, muscle, and structure.”1

“According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapists help people participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping people recovering from an injury or health event to regain skills, and provide support for older adults experiencing physical changes.”2

Last week I briefly discussed some activities within the pediatric population that allows therapy to be more appealing for children. Today I want to discuss some activities that allow therapy to be more fun for the geriatric population. This blog is dedicated for families or therapists who are working within the geriatric population and want to make therapy more fun and enjoyable for their patients.

When working with the geriatric population, it is important to take into consideration the goals they are wanting to achieve. Some goals may seem easier to complete than others, but you have to take it one step at a time. Some examples of goals may include cooking a meal, planting flowers, writing a letter, playing games with friends, brushing their hair, putting on clothes, or brushing their teeth. As a therapist it is important to stem your therapy towards their goals. I had the opportunity to see firsthand, in the nursing home setting, how occupational therapists worked with their patients. Listed below are some activities they used to help make therapy more enjoyable for their patients.

Activities:

Shelling pecans

Listening to music

Playing games   

Taking a walk

Crafts

Arm exercises

Throwing/catching a beach ball

Working a puzzle

Baking

Placing pegs into a peg board

Memory game

Some of the activities above focus on physical and functional impairments while others work on their memory skills. One of the main goals in geriatric occupational therapy is strengthening muscles and regaining coordination. Activities like throwing a beach ball or simply taking a walk can help the patient’s range of motion and basic strength. Other activities like playing games, doing crafts, and listening to music may not be strengthening activities, but work on coordination, stimulation, and memory and are also enjoyable.

If you know someone or have a family member who you think may need therapy, encourage them to talk with their doctor so that they can continue doing the things that they enjoy.

References

1 Wilding, M. (2012, September 66). How Occupational Therapists Help Seniors Get Things Done. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://www.healthworkscollective.com/ecaring/48586/how-occupational-therapists-help-seniors-get-things-done

2The American Occupational Therapy Association. (2017). Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.aota.org