What Should I Know Before Occupational Therapy? – 10 Commonly Asked Questions

To help you and your family learn more about occupational therapy (OT), we built a brief list of questions that patients commonly ask just before they begin their inpatient occupational therapy program.

We hope these questions and their answers will give you more insight into everything occupational therapy entails and help you feel confident about your stay and ready to reclaim your independence!

1. Does occupational therapy work?

Occupational therapy was established more than 100 years ago and is proven to be a highly effective therapy that helps patients regain their functional independence. According to studies, occupational therapy patients experience:

• 47% reduction in falls with OT fall prevention programs
• 67% improvement in grip strength
• 45% decrease in hospital readmissions
• 38% improvement in daily activities (stroke patients)
• 35% improvement in upper extremity function (stroke patients)
• 33% increase in quality-of-life measures

2. How much therapy will I do each day?

Patients typically participate in therapy one to two hours per day, five days a week in a skilled nursing setting. Therapy sessions in a rehabilitation center may be longer and more intensive, depending on a patient’s needs.

3. What is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?

Physical therapy focuses on restoring a patient’s general strength, balance, and ability for activities such as standing, walking, bed mobility, and transfers. Occupational therapy focuses on restoring a patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, and cooking.

4. What kind of equipment will I use in occupational therapy?

As an occupational therapy patient, you will learn to use a variety of tools and adaptive equipment that will help you retrain in and perform certain daily tasks safely.

Here are a few examples of adaptive equipment used in occupational therapy:

• Dressing equipment

  • Examples: button hooks for buttoning shirts, dressing sticks for lower-body dressing, and sock aids

• Showering/bathing tools

  • Examples: grab bars for stabilization, non-slip mats, shower chairs, long-handled sponges

• Feeding tools

  • Examples: universal cuff for better grip and coordination, weighted or built-up silverware, rocker knives for one-handed meal prep

• Hygiene tools

  • Examples: toothpaste dispensers, adaptive hairbrushes, elongated sink faucets

• Car Safety equipment

  • Examples: hand controls, steering wheel grips, and transfer simulators that recreate the experience of getting in and out of a car.

5. What should I wear during therapy sessions?

We suggest that you wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that is easy to move around in, such as tee shirts and shorts. For your feet, tennis or athletic shoes are the best option.

6. What should I bring with me for an inpatient stay?

Be sure to bring with you everything you need to feel comfortable and supported during your stay. Here is a brief list of items to consider:

• Clothing for therapy, sleep, and lounging
• Toiletry items for bathing and hygiene
• Entertainment items, such as books and small electronics
• Any medications you might need

7. What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient therapy?

Inpatient therapy is rehabilitation a patient undergoes while staying at the skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility in a private or semiprivate suite. With outpatient therapy, a patient visits the facility for scheduled therapy sessions, or, in some cases, therapists visit the patient’s home for in-home sessions.

8. Does occupational help with the body only?

Occupational therapy addresses more than just physical impairments and functionality. Using performance-based testing, occupational therapists also assess a patient’s functional cognition, or their ability to think and make decisions that help them complete normal activities. This assessment will shape the patient’s overall therapy and discharge plans.

9. When can I go home?

In most cases, inpatient occupational therapy patients return home within two to four weeks. Your occupational therapist will monitor your progress and create a personalized discharge plan to help you make a smooth, safe transition back home.

10. Will I need outpatient occupational therapy?

After discharging from inpatient therapy, some patients require additional rehabilitation services to ensure not only a stable transition back to independent life but long-term success. Your therapist and physician will determine if outpatient occupational therapy would benefit you.