Palliative Rehabilitation for Occupational Therapists

Course overview

Many lay persons may assume occupational therapists and other rehabilitation providers don't have a place in a practice area such as palliative care. And, even within the healthcare field, the work OTs do within palliative care is often misunderstood. However, OTs have an essential role in palliative care: improving quality of life and continuing to promote independence as well as occupational engagement for individuals with life-limiting conditions. Occupational therapists may use remediatory and compensatory approaches for individuals who receive palliative care OT services. Interventions may include environmental modifications, task adaptation, education, leisure participation, spirituality exploration or practice, coping skills, emotion regulation, and pain management as well as keeping control of other persistent symptoms. With support from occupational therapy providers, an individual receiving palliative care services can identify, prioritize, and carry out what is most important to them at the end of their life.