Occupational therapist assistants and aides work under the supervision of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. The ultimate goal is to improve clients' quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. For example, occupational therapist assistants help injured workers re-enter the labor force by teaching them how to compensate for lost motor skills or help individuals with learning disabilities increase their independence.
Occupational therapist assistants help clients with rehabilitative activities and exercises outlined in a treatment plan developed in collaboration with an occupational therapist. Activities range from teaching the proper method of moving from a bed into a wheelchair to the best way to stretch and limber the muscles of the hand. Assistants monitor an individual's activities to make sure that they are performed correctly and to provide encouragement. They also record their client's progress for the occupational therapist. If the treatment is not having the intended effect, or the client is not improving as expected, the therapist may alter the treatment program in hopes of obtaining better results. In addition, occupational therapist assistants document the billing of the client's health insurance provider.
Occupational therapist aides typically prepare materials and assemble equipment used during treatment. They are responsible for a range of clerical tasks, including scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, restocking or ordering depleted supplies, and filling out insurance forms or other paperwork. Aides are not regulated by States, so the law does not allow them to perform as wide a range of tasks as occupational therapist assistants.
Occupational therapist assistants and aides need to have a moderate degree of strength because of the physical exertion required to assist patients. For example, assistants and aides may need to lift patients. Constant kneeling, stooping, and standing for long periods also are part of the job.
The hours and days that occupational therapist assistants and aides work vary by facility and whether they are full time or part time. For example, many outpatient therapy offices and clinics have evening and weekend hours to coincide with patients' schedules.
| 1. | Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals. |
| 2. | Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments. |
| 3. | Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records. |
| 4. | Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security. |
| 5. | Evaluate the living skills and capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients. |
| 6. | Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies. |
| 7. | Instruct patients and families in work, social, and living skills, the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability. |
| 8. | Supervise patients in choosing and completing work assignments or arts and crafts projects. |
| 9. | Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment. |
| 10. | Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments. |
| 11. | Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games. |
| 12. | Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area. |
| 13. | Adjust and repair assistive devices and make adaptive changes to other equipment and to environments. |
| 14. | Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress. |
| 15. | Accompany patients on outings, providing transportation when necessary. |
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