Good news for occupational therapists and upcoming grads – as of 2023, occupational therapy is a growing field. This career is expected to grow 14% between 2021 and 2031. That’s over 10,000 new position openings per year. So, why is occupational therapy so important and why is the field growing so quickly?
A quick rundown for anyone not familiar with this field:
Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals who help people adapt to various disabilities or life changes. They work with clients to help them achieve goals and a more independent and satisfying life.
OTs may help patients with physical skills, such as writing, dressing, or using adaptive equipment such as a wheelchair.
They also help patients with cognitive skills, such as:
OTs can also help patients with mental health aspects of life changes. They can assist patients in developing positive coping strategies and in working toward accepting difficult life changes.
OTs may work in a variety of settings, such as clinics, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and schools. Clinicians often work with a diverse group of clients, as people of all ages and backgrounds may need occupational therapy at some point in their lives.
Part of the demand for more occupational therapists is due to a large aging population. Many patients require occupational therapy for age-related issues such as arthritis, stroke, and neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. This has increased the demand for occupational therapists in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Additionally, as people age, it’s common to want to stay at home for as long as possible. OTs can often help individuals achieve this by helping them make modifications to their daily routines to ensure safety in the home.
There are other factors contributing to the need as well. Some hospitals have found that utilizing occupational therapy has lowered readmissions rates of patients. When a patient attends occupational therapy for issues such as heart failure, their likelihood of recovering and seeing successful outcomes seems to increase. Therefore, many hospitals are beginning to see the need for occupational therapists on staff.
In general, it seems that the healthcare field is seeing the benefits of preventative care and maintaining one’s health as much as possible, rather than waiting for a more impactful and expensive medical situation to arise. Occupational therapy plays a huge role in these preventative measures.
OTs are also needed in schools as part of special education services. In the United States, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed in 2004, and there has been an expanding need for OTs in schools since then. They can work with children with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or health impairments. Their work with children may include rehabilitation and cognitive stimulation, as well as support for children’s academic achievements and promoting positive behaviors. For example, an occupational therapist could work with a child on their executive function skills, helping them to manage their time and workload in a sustainable way.
Occupational therapy is often perceived as only a rehabilitation field, but it expands to many aspects of care that are sometimes overlooked.
It’s a welcome trend to see OTs being recognized for all the ways they benefit their clients’ lives and how their care may help prevent more significant medical issues.
As more OTs enter the field, we’re here to provide resources and support. If you’re an OT who is interested in using Happyneuron Pro’s digital cognitive exercises with your clients, don’t hesitate to reach out!
If you’re a new grad, learn about our 6-month free offer for recent graduates.
Pulling from our decades of experience in Cognitive Therapeutics, we aim to help you enrich your practice through the use of digital and paper tools.
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