Lincolnshire County Council’s Occupational therapy team promote independence by providing equipment and adapting environments.
Occupational therapists see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations. They look at relationships between the activities that you do every day – your occupations – alongside the challenges you face and your environment.
Lincolnshire County Council has a team of occupational therapists who work in partnership with other colleagues in Health and Social Care to support people who are suffering from one or multiple impairments to have a meaningful life.
Last financial year, the occupational therapy service assessed and provided a total of 4,937 pieces of equipment to assist people and enable them to remain in their homes.
An occupational therapist’s main focus is to promote independence aiming for people to stay active in their homes, by using innovative techniques:
This includes:
- Provision of simple and bespoke equipment and technology
- Adapting the surrounding environments to meet the needs of the person
- Short term recovery/ enablement programmes to enable people staying safe and independent at home The home environment often acts as a barrier for people to achieve their full potential and can prevent them from being independent. Eligible residents can access Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) following an Occupational Therapy assessment to carry out essential adaptations to help them live safely and independently in their home. This could be for widening doors, installing ramps, or improving access to rooms and facilities — such as installing a stair-lift or a level access shower.
Here is one example of how Occupational Therapy intervention improved the quality of life for one of our residents in Lincolnshire:
“Mr A worked as an art lecturer and an artist, but a rare nervous system disorder which causes problems with balance, movement, speech and breathing meant he could fall up to six times a day. With support from his Occupational therapist, he attended a local rehabilitation ward to try out a standing harness. He now has a tracking hoist and standing sling so he can continue to do what he loves.
Cllr Wendy Bowkett, executive councillor for adult care at the county council, said:
“As with all of our adult care services, the team take a person-centred approach. It really is all about you! Everyone is different, so whether it’s supporting people with a new medical diagnosis, or managing longer-term health difficulties, our team dealt with 6,740 referrals for Occupational therapy last year alone.”
What people say about us?
Mrs J - “I would like to commend Jay and the team that have supported my mum with the aids that have been put it place such as the ramp for the front door, the adjustable toilet seat with hand rails, the commode, the perch seat and the bed rail.
Mrs M - “As a family we would really like to thank Jay for the massive amount of support he has offered my mum. In my mum’s words ‘he has gone above and beyond what I ever thought would be possible and I owe him so much gratitude for making it possible for me to remain in my home with my loved ones and more importantly being independent.”
Their help has been life-changing for Rebecca
Rebecca has a number of complex needs and requirements, but the county’s occupational therapy team have clearly had a positive impact on her day-to-day life.
Rebecca, who lives in Alford and needs constant care, deals with cerebral palsy, hemiplegia and other mental health issues. But the 29-year-old says the OT intervention has been nothing but positive.
“I have needed occupational therapy assistance on and off for all of my life really and every time I have needed something to improve my living conditions they have been there for me,” said Rebecca.
“Ever since Nick (occupational therapist, Nick Chilvers) has been looking after our case, it has been life-changing. He has helped with the allocation of a new place to live and with alterations to the house.
“The team also helped us to get a profiling bed and in acquiring a new hoist which helps me enormously when it comes to getting in and out of bed.”
Rebecca’s mum Anita has been equally impressed with Lincolnshire’s OT team. “The occupational therapy team have been brilliant with Rebecca.
“When you ring them up, they are friendly, helpful and fair,” added Anita. The team deserve an award really, they have changed Rebecca’s life for the better.”
Rebecca, who also has autism, added: “I have had the privilege of meeting such a kind supporting OT, who has given me my life back. I feel like I have been treated as a human and not just someone with disabilities.”
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