Occupational Therapy
MSWA Occupational Therapists will empower you to lead life independently, engage in meaningful activities and live life based on your individual choices.
MSWA Occupational Therapists (OTs) work together with individuals living with neurological conditions to reach their goals and aspirations that are achievable and meaningful to them. Our OTs will provide practical solutions that will help to increase their participation in activities in their daily life, from self-care tasks, everyday household activities, work or hobbies and interests.
We have a team of 30 Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants based in the Perth metro and regional regions.
Our Services
Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs)
Our OTs conduct comprehensive Functional Capacity Assessments as required by NDIS, examining various aspects of your everyday activities and home environment. By understanding your unique needs and preferences and how your neurological condition affects you they create detailed reports submitted to the NDIS as evidence for securing the necessary funding for future NDIS Plans.
Home Visits
Your home environment plays a large part on how you go about your daily activities. Our OTs may meet you in your home to conduct a Home Visit Assessment which includes an assessment of your current function, ongoing needs and home environment. They will assist you with practical strategies, equipment and education around being independent and safe in your own home.
Assistive Technology
We know there is no one-size-fits all when it comes to disability equipment.
Our OTs adopt an individualised approach to prescribing equipment and assistive technologies specific to your needs and preferences. This process is tailored to you and starts with a one-on-one consultation.
Assistive technology can range from modified cutlery to electric lounge chairs, height-adjustable beds, wheelchairs and transfer aids which can enable you to participate fully in life.
For specialised equipment, our OTs also have good working relationships with AT suppliers and can work with you to trial or rent equipment that would suit your needs.
Supported Lying
Occupational therapists use a multi-disciplinary approach and consider a person’s daily life across the full 24 hours. At MSWA, OTs follow their Clients through their journey and assist them in maintaining functional independence.
Clients can be supported in a great seating system with postural supports which consider alignment, pressure and function. However, the duration of time spent in bed far outweighs time spent in seating systems. It should be considered that if a Client has these supports in sitting, they may also benefit from supported lying.
‘Supported Lying’ (often termed 24-hour positioning or sleep positioning) can be defined as postural care which is gentle and respectful in order to protect and restore a person’s body shape against the forces of gravity.
Ask your MSWA Occupational Therapist today about how we can support you or someone you know with supported lying.
Read more about Supported Lying.
Improving Cognition
Cognition is an umbrella term, used to describe how we use our brain to think. Cognition refers to the complex, high-level functions of our brain, including processing information, attention, memory, problem solving, visual perception and verbal fluency.
The MSWA Occupational Therapy team provides a cognition service to assist Clients to improve their ability to conduct everyday tasks. Part of this service involves a comprehensive assessment and goal setting to help guide intervention measures, with the objective of seeing some meaningful changes in your daily life. This is often achieved through one-on-one sessions with your occupational therapist.
Sleep Health
It is common for people with neurological conditions to experience changes or disruptions to their sleep. This can be challenging to navigate as it can lead to fatigue, further impacting other symptoms.
MSWA OTs can improve your sleep health via:
- Research Participation
MSWA Occupational Therapy team has partnered with ECU on their Improved Sleep Health (ISH) initiative. You will have the valuable opportunity to take part in research and get valuable insight into your sleep health. Our OTs can work with you to use the data collected to work on a tailored solution to help improve your sleep.
- Individualised Supports
Our OTs will provide individualised, tailored support that takes in account your sleep routine, sleep environment and other factor that might be impacting your sleep.
Home and Living Services
MSWA OTs can provide assessments and reports to support your home and living needs. Depending on your situation and functional needs, you may be eligible for NDIS Home and Living Supports.
MSWA OTs can help with minor home modifications that do not involve making structural changes to the home, including ramps, rails and handheld shower hoses.
For complex home modifications, a referral to a registered Complex Home Modifications is required.
Occupational Therapy Groups
We recognise the importance of shared experience and knowledge which is why we offer Occupational Therapy Groups that run throughout the year. The groups and workshops are hosted by our accredited OTs that are tailored to provide you with information, practical strategies and intervention methods to improve your quality of life.
To register or find out more information about our OT workshops email [email protected]
Articles and resource you might find useful
Hear from MSWA’s occupational therapists for useful advice and information to increase your autonomy, engage in meaningful activities, and live life tailored to your unique needs and aspirations.