Manager: Ms. Lubna Nashef
Occupational therapy helps people with motor, sensory, cognitive and / or psychological problems to develop functional skills for self-care, work and leisure.
Occupational therapy helps persons with disabilities to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, as necessary, as parents, employees and students. It does this by using therapeutic methods, application of assistive technology and adaptation of the environment.
Occupational therapy addresses the person on a personal level, according to the needs, goals and aspirations unique to the individual. It also helps caregivers, family, friends, teachers and employers to understand and gain skills to support people with disabilities to maintain or increase their level of independence.
Who can benefit from Occupational Therapy?
A wide range of people can benefit from occupational therapy including people with:
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Professional injuries including problems caused by repetitive movements (e.g. repetitive stress syndrome, RSS), neck pain and lower back injuries.
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Functional limitations following a stroke or cardiac event.
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Joint problems, nerve problems or other chronic situations.
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Burns and scars.
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Spinal cord injuries, limb injuries, amputations, fractures.
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Hemiplagia.
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Motor problems.
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Cognitive problems following a stroke or head injury.
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Congenital injuries, learning problems or developmental disabilities.
Mental or behavioral disorders including schizophrenia, depression, eating disorders or post-traumatic stress.
The Occupational Therapy Department includes the two units: at Ein Kerem and Mount Scopus.
Each patient referred for occupational therapy is evaluated and a preliminary assessment is made to determine treatment goals, in coordination with the patient. With advances in the treatment, recurrent evaluations are made, and depending on the results changes are made to the program.
The department serves patients at the acute stage and continues to care for them at the rehabilitation stage up until full or maximum rehabilitation. Other patients are referred to other therapeutic frameworks or to the community.
We keep in touch with treatment facilities in the community to ensure continuity of care after discharge from Hadassah.
The two units, as part of a university hospital, are used as training centers for clinical training to occupational therapy students from Israel and abroad.
Occupational therapy clinics participate in professional conferences at the hospital, national conferences and are used in teaching.
Occupational therapy services:
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Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) - a customized treatment plan designed to enhance individual everyday functions.
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Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and more complex functions.
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Assessments including the home environment and workplace and recommendations for necessary adjustments.
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Evaluation and treatment of components of the person's functioning.
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Recommendation and practice with using instruments, adapted assistive accessories or alternative techniques.
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Training for family and caregivers of a person with a disability.
Occupational Therapy treatment is divided into 3 broad categories:
1. Therapeutic Occupational therapy
Activities of Daily Living - ADL
These treatments include mobility, eating, personal care, dressing, bathroom and washing. Some treatments are done in the inpatient rooms and some in the ADL room in occupational therapy. In the Department of Occupational Therapy at Mount Scopus is a therapeutic apartment that includes a bathroom and toilet, bed and kitchen with customized rehabilitation equipment.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living - IADL
These treatments include functioning at home and in the community, such as preparing meals, laundry, cleaning, handling money, planning shopping, child care, etc. The therapeutic kitchen at Mount Scopus is equipped with customizable work surfaces for people in wheelchairs as well as people who work standing up. In treatment, the emphasis is placed on maintaining the rules of safety, organization and energy savings. Occupational therapy clinics provide recommendations and guidance to the patient and his family regarding the acquisition of any accessories required and matching the housing to the special needs of the patient. The Department of Occupational Therapy has a wide range of assistive accessories designed for demonstration and practice with patients, some of which are available for purchase.
2. Functional Occupational therapy
This treatment involves improving or maintaining the range of motion, muscle strength, sensation, balance, endurance, crude and fine coordination, encouraging movement of the injured limb, building braces, prevention of contractures and deformations, fitting pressure garments and providing silicon and other materials for the treatment of scars. To achieve the therapeutic goals, we use targeted activities: games, crafts, carpentry and practice with different treatment methods.
3. Cognitive Occupational therapy
This treatment includes increasing attention and concentration, improved orientation, memory, spatial perception, visual-motor organization, sequence, selection, problem solving, judgment, etc..
Our department has a wide range of treatments available; therapeutic computer programs, computer games, practice pages, and various learning games.