Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that supports individuals across the lifespan to participate in the activities that they need or want to do, which we call occupations. Some examples of occupations include getting dressed, making a meal, going to class, work, leisure activities and even sleep.
OT practitioners use activities that are meaningful and client-centered to promote health, improve quality of life and prevent or manage various health conditions. OT practitioners work to create the best fit between the person, the environment and the occupation. OT practitioners are skilled at connecting people with resources, adapting tasks, and reducing barriers.
OT is an “evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science” (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2021).
An OT practitioner can support food security for people across the lifespan by helping them to participate in food-related occupations (Juckett & Robinson 2019; Schmeltzer & Leto, 2018). OT practitioners can help reduce personal, environmental or contextual barriers to food security (Juckett & Robinson 2019; Schmeltzer & Leto, 2018). Health promotion is a fundamental aspect of occupational therapy.
References
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2021). What is occupational therapy. Retrieved April 12, 2021 from https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/OTMonth/what-is-OT.aspx
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2021). [Occupational therapy passion purpose possibility digital image]. Retrieved April 17, 2021 from https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/OTMonth/Download-Graphics.aspx
Juckett, L. A., & Robinson, M. L. (2019). The occupational therapy approach to addressing food insecurity among older adults with chronic disease. Geriatrics, 4(22), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics4010022
Schmelzer, L., & Leto, T. (2018). Promoting health through engagement in occupations that maximize food resources. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(4), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.025866
The Occupational Therapy Hub. (2019). [Food and stethoscope digital image]. Retrieved April 18, 2021 from https://www.theothub.com/post/role-of-occupational-therapy-in-diabetes-and-lifestyle-interventions
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