October 17, 2023
News
Occupational therapy is an innovative form of therapy that helps people regain or maintain their independence and ability to carry out everyday activities. To help people with various needs and conditions to develop their skills and improve their quality of life, Caritas Czech Republic, together with Homecare Association, will develop occupational therapy services in 5 medical-social centres in Moldova.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is a branch of health and social care that assists people with physical or cognitive impairments. Occupational therapy helps these people to develop or regain the skills needed to carry out daily activities at the minimum necessary and satisfactory level, so that they can be as independent as possible and need as little assistance from others as possible.
Occupational therapy is suitable for older people, people with arthritis, chronic pain or injury, disabilities or diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, etc.
Although occupational therapy is still at an early stage of development in Moldova, this profession is recognised in the Republic of Moldova and there are discussions at parliamentary level about introducing a course in occupational therapy in universities.
How does occupational therapy work?
Occupational therapy works in three key directions. Firstly, occupational therapy trains people in everyday life skills. Occupational therapists provide training and guidance to patients to help them improve their skills in dressing, personal hygiene, food preparation and consumption, and so on. For example, they may work with people who have difficulty fastening buttons or using zippers so that they can dress and undress more easily and without extra help.
Secondly, occupational therapy develops work skills and abilities and helps people with various needs to learn to write, read and manage their time. Occupational therapists can train people with different needs and conditions on how to adapt their workplace to their disability or how to use different technical devices to work effectively.
Another important part of occupational therapy is teaching the education of skills through various games and leisure activities. This involves developing social and cognitive skills through group games or logic games and hobbies such as cooking or sculpting. Through these activities, occupational therapists help people develop the skills they need to enjoy life independently.
Through occupational therapy, Caritas Czech Republic offers a chance for independent living
Occupational therapy offers a diverse range of benefits and helps people improve their quality of life. It promotes recovery and independence for people with various needs and facilitates their reintegration into society.
Caritas Czech Republic, together with Homecare Association, will integrate occupational therapy services in five medico-social centres in Moldova providing independence and social reintegration for care recipients in the country.
From 2014 to date, Caritas Czech Republic has opened 10 medical-social centres in the country and improved the skills and knowledge of more than 5,000 doctors, nurses and social workers in the field of care services.
