Occupational therapy is a health profession whose goal is to enable individuals and groups to achieve optimal functioning in activities of daily living including self care, productivity and leisure.
Occupational Therapy is intended for people whose abilities of performing activities of selfcare, productivity and leisure are reduced or impaired by development, physical injury or illness, old age, psychologically, socially or culturally or by combination of the mentioned.
Activities of occupational therapy include:
- occupational therapy assessment and analysis of the performance of activities of daily living which include self-care, productivity and leisure time activities,
- occupational therapy evaluation and analysis of sensory-motor, cognitive and psychosocial skills and their impact on the performance of activities of daily living,
- occupational therapy evaluation and analysis of housing, employment and socio-cultural environment in which everyday activities are taking place,
- promotion, establishment, restoration, maintenance and / or modification of the performance of self-care activities (feeding, dressing, personal hygiene, bathing, functional mobility),
- promotion, establishment, restoration, maintenance and / or modification of the performance of productive activities (activities in the household and community, professional roles and tasks, caring, voluntary work),
- promotion, establishment, restoration, maintenance and / or modification of performance of leisure time activities (play, recreation, hobbies, recreation and leisure),
- promotion, establishment, restoration and maintenance of sensory-motor, cognitive and psychosocial components of activities using different therapeutic approaches, methods and techniques,
- adaptation of housing, employment and social environment, in tune with needs and abilities of the individual,
- counselling and education of individuals, groups, family members, professionals, students and other persons,
- measuring occupational therapy intervention outcomes,
- occupational therapy documentation,
- planning and implementing research on the impact of everyday activities to improve health and quality of life with a goal of developing evidence-based occupational therapy
Law on health care professionals (Official Gazette 87/09)
Where do Occupational Therapists work in Croatia?
In the Republic of Croatia, Occupational Therpaists are mainly employed in special hospitals, centers for Occupational Therapy and rehabilitation, institutions for mental health protection, homes for elderly. Of course, they can also work in community rehabilitation units, educational facilities, centers for prevention of addicitons, general hospitals.
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