Post-stroke care management in occupational therapy

After a stroke, you may have difficulties participating in your daily activities. Occupational therapists can help you to relearn skills that were lost and advise on adaptations for tasks so that you can continue to engage in activities meaningful to you.

What is occupational therapy? 

Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that aims to enable people to participate in daily activities that they need or want to do. Occupational therapists help people to participate in areas of self-care, work or leisure after a stroke.

How can occupational therapy help?

Occupational therapists use everyday activities in your rehabilitation journey to help you achieve your goals. Your occupational therapist will work with you to relearn skills and problem-solve to improve your ability to perform activities important to you. They may also help you to find new ways of doing things or recommend assistive / adaptive equipment that could enhance your
participation in daily activities, such as a shower chair for showering or a wheelchair to assist in mobility.

To ensure your safety at home, occupational therapists may also advise on home modifications and conduct caregiver trainings. Other than selfcare,
they will also assess your ability to manage day-to-day activities such as shopping, cooking a meal, managing money, and work-related tasks.

Where will I have therapy?

In the acute hospital, you will be seen by an occupational therapist when you are medically stable. Following which, you may continue to receive rehabilitation in a specialized rehabilitation unit (in the hospital or community hospital). After your discharge, therapy may continue in hospital outpatient clinics, day rehabilitation centres or home-based therapy services. It is important to talk to your doctor and therapists to find out what is best for you.

How can my carer or family help?

If possible, we encourage your carer or family members to attend rehabilitation sessions with you. They can be a source of social support for you and also assist you during your recovery process. Your occupational therapist can also train your carer or family members to provide the appropriate level of assistance for you where required.

Tips for recovery

• Practise the activities suggested by the occupational therapist regularly.
• The more you practise, the better your chances of recovery.
• Involve and move your affected side as much as possible during daily tasks.
• Be patient and aim for long-term rather than immediate results.
• Exercises may tire you out easily at first, however, it is still important to participate and build up your endurance gradually.
• Use a notebook to record your progress.
• Find out about community resources, for example, you may join stroke support organisations such as the Singapore National Stroke Association (SNSA) or Stroke Support Station (S3).

Article available in Chinese, Malay and Tamil. 

For more information on how to better manage your stroke recovery journey, visit Stroke E-Resources.

StrokeHub Video: 

Occupational Therapy (Extended Version) https://youtu.be/-dTtzqy5n3w 

Occupational Therapy https://youtu.be/KoyWHPd7NzY