Caring for the Caregivers: The Role of Occupational Therapy
The repetitive nature of caring for a loved one recovering at home can be emotionally draining for a caregiver. Tasks such as helping that loved one get out of bed each morning, dress, bathe and eat can also be physically challenging. When a recovering patient can carry out these activities of daily living independently, the benefits are felt throughout the home. The patient feels more in control and more positive about his or her recovery, noted University of Ottawa Heart Institute occupational therapist Linda Varas Brulé. The caregiver, too, can feel that a source of pressure and stress has been removed.
