Occupational Therapy
Our residents love engaging in occupational therapy
Our residents participate in a variety of activities and are challenged to develop skills, while engaging socially. All of our residents are involved in the structured therapy and activity programmes that are in place (with the overarching goal of improving quality of life), where residents are exposed to and facilitated to engage in ball games/gross motor play, puzzles/problem solving activities, water play, swimming, sensory exploration, outdoor playtimes, educational groups, activities of daily living, self-esteem/pamper sessions, music groups and massage.
In addition to this ongoing stimulation and activities, further therapeutic goals are reached through the following methods:
- Positioning residents in standing frames, prone lyers, side lyers etc. (promotes maintenance or improvement of physical components and endurance)
- Management of wheelchair positioning and referral for orthotic devices
- Improving residents’ abilities in independent feeding, through the use of assistive devices and facilitation of feeding with selected residents as the need arises
Apart from these group sessions, individual therapy sessions are conducted with selected residents. The occupational therapy department also runs the smaller playgroup, aimed at a smaller group of younger residents, aiming to provide a more focused and structured activity space in order to progress them in play, function and social skills. Regular outings and social events are also arranged for our residents, and these events are always a highlight for both staff and residents alike!
Students, interns and volunteers are able to participate and assist in all of the above areas of the occupational therapy tasks, under supervision and guidance of the occupational therapist.
Physiotherapy
The physiotherapy department attends to the physical needs of residents.
This includes
- Regular stretching in order to maintain range of movement and the ability to reach and maintain postures and positions
- Positioning residents in standing frames, prone lyers, side lyers etc. (promotes maintenance or improvement of physical components and endurance)
- Assisting in the management of seating and wheelchair positioning as well as orthotic devices
- Mobility training and improvement of endurance, while addressing underlying physical components involved in this. The swimming pool is also sometimes used for physiotherapy and mobilisation purposes
- Chest/respiratory physiotherapy for individuals requiring this
A lot of overlap occurs between the physiotherapy and occupational therapy group programmes, but individual physiotherapy sessions also occur where possible in order to meet more specific aims and needs.
Students, interns and volunteers are able to participate and assist in all of the above areas of the physiotherapy tasks, under supervision and guidance of the physiotherapist.