If you are recovering from an injury or dealing with a chronic condition, the initial care you'll receive will largely focus on addressing the medical aspects of your recovery, from healing your wounds to managing your symptoms. However, there are broader aspects of treatment to consider - for example, how does your condition affect your everyday life? What tasks are more difficult to perform as a result of your health issue? What kind of additional support or adjustments will you need to maintain a good quality of life? This is important both in the initial recovery period and also in the long-term management of your needs. 

This is where the role of an occupational therapist becomes important. Occupational therapy is an essential component of any treatment process, helping people of all ages overcome challenges that affect their ability to perform daily tasks. Whether due to injury, illness, disability or mental health problems, individuals who struggle with everyday activities such as dressing, cooking and cleaning, or getting back to work and managing work can receive essential support from occupational therapists, helping them to regain their independence and improve their overall wellbeing.

If you have been affected by a health condition that has impacted your overall ability to perform day-to-day tasks, occupational therapy can help you. In this guide, we will examine the purpose and methods of occupational therapy and explore how you can get access to the treatment you need.

What Is an Occupational Therapist, and What Do They Do?

An occupational therapist is a healthcare professional who helps individuals develop, recover or maintain the skills they need to perform daily activities. Their role is to support people in overcoming physical, cognitive or emotional challenges that impact their ability to live independently.

Many occupational therapists work across different healthcare settings, including hospitals, community centres, nursing homes, schools and workplaces. They focus on improving a person’s ability to engage in everyday tasks, whether that involves self-care, work, education, or leisure activities.

Occupational therapy services involve assessing an individual’s needs, identifying barriers to independence, and developing a personalised intervention plan that will help them overcome these challenges. This may include:

• Pain management strategies
• Adaptive equipment and assistive technology
• Modifications to the person's physical or social environment

Occupational therapy practitioners work with people of all ages, addressing a wide range of health conditions, disabilities, and injuries to make daily life more accessible.

You canfind out more about occupational therapy and its role from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Who Do Occupational Therapists Support?

Occupational therapists support a broad range of people who experience difficulties in performing daily tasks due to physical disabilities, mental illness, injuries, or long-term health conditions. If you belong to any of the following groups, you may be able to benefit from occupational therapy:

People with physical disabilities or injuries

Many occupational therapists assist individuals with mobility issues, chronic pain or injuries that limit their ability to carry out daily activities. They provide adaptive equipment, assistive technology and tailored rehabilitation plans to improve independence at home, work, or in the community.

Individuals recovering from surgery or illness

After surgery, a stroke or serious illness, people may struggle with daily routines and self-care. Occupational therapy can help with early intervention, physical activity programmes, and home adaptations to aid recovery and prevent further complications.

Children with neurological conditions

For children who have a neurological condition such as cerebral palsy, occupational therapy input is a crucial part of their day-to-day therapy input. This will focus on the management of gross and fine motor function, and consider suitable equipment to assist with mobility, sitting and standing. They will also consider adaptations to vehicles and properties to meet a child’s needs, as well as support to enable access to leisure activities and holidays. 

Children with developmental or learning disabilities 

Children with autism, ADHD or other learning disabilities may face challenges in school and daily life. Occupational therapy can help with fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, and problem-solving abilities to support their development and education.

Older people needing support with daily living

Ageing can bring reduced mobility, cognitive decline, or conditions such as arthritis or dementia, making daily tasks more difficult. Occupational therapists help older people maintain independence, stay active, and adapt their environment to improve their quality of life.

People with neurological conditions or sensory processing disorders

Individuals with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease or sensory impairments often require specialist support to navigate daily challenges. Occupational therapy can help them develop skills, access the right equipment, and make adjustments to their physical or social environment.

People receiving end-of-life care

For individuals with terminal illnesses, occupational therapy can help maintain comfort, dignity and quality of life in their final months. Assistance may include pain management techniques, emotional support, and adaptations to ensure they can continue engaging in meaningful activities for as long as possible.

This is by no means an exhaustive list; if you feel that you could potentially benefit from occupational therapy, you should speak to your GP about the possibility of getting a referral.

What Support Do Occupational Therapists Provide?

Occupational therapists use a range of techniques to support individuals based on their specific needs, and can help you to gradually improve your quality of life through a number of tailored methods:

Helping individuals regain independence in daily tasks

Occupational therapists work with people struggling to perform essential daily tasks, such as dressing, cooking and driving. A key technique used in rehabilitation is activity grading, where tasks are broken down into manageable steps and gradually increased in complexity to rebuild confidence and ability. For example, a person recovering from a stroke might start with simple hand movements, before progressing to buttoning a shirt or using utensils.

Providing mobility aids and assistive technology

Many occupational therapists support individuals with physical disabilities or mobility impairments by assessing their need for adaptive equipment and assistive technology. This may include:

• Wheelchairs, walking aids and prosthetics to improve mobility as well as aids to access leisure pursuits.
• Specialist seating and beds
• Adaptations to kitchens, specialist kitchen equipment, dressing aids and grab rails to make daily routines easier
• Items to assist with personal care such as specialist baths, toilets, continence products and items to support access to as much independence with personal care as possible
• Voice-controlled or touchscreen devices for individuals  to assist with communication and independence
• Environmental control systems to help operate lights, doors or appliances independently

By using the right equipment, individuals can maintain their independence and reduce reliance on caregivers.

Adapting homes and workplaces to meet accessibility needs

Occupational therapists assess the physical or social environment of a person’s home, workplace or school to identify barriers to accessibility, and recommend changes that can make life easier.

Common adaptations include:

• Installing ramps, stairlifts or widened doorways as well as allowing for suitable turning space to ensure access for wheelchair users
• Adaptations to bathrooms and kitchens to enable full access to all facilities
• Adapting access to the property, garage/parking spaces and garden facilities 
• Rearranging workstations to accommodate employees 
• Providing specialist furniture to support people at home or in the workplace 
• Creating quiet spaces in offices or classrooms for individuals with sensory sensitivities

These modifications help people remain in their own homes, maintain employment, or continue their education.

By addressing emotional, cognitive and behavioural challenges, occupational therapy can help individuals achieve a sense of control and stability in their lives.

Assisting children in educational settings

Children with learning disabilities, autism or developmental delays often struggle with fine motor skills, sensory processing, and concentration in school environments. Occupational therapy can help by:

• Improving handwriting, coordination and balance through targeted exercises
• Using sensory integration techniques to help children process sights, sounds and textures more comfortably
• Providing adaptive learning tools and support in terms of specialist communication devices as well as training for schools/teachers
• Supporting transitions between activities to reduce anxiety and frustration

This enables children to fully participate in education and daily routines while building essential life skills.

Recommending exercises to improve strength and coordination

For individuals recovering from injuries, neurological conditions or musculoskeletal issues, occupational therapy includes targeted exercises to improve:

• Hand strength and dexterity for writing, using tools, or getting dressed each day
• Balance and coordination to improve mobility
• Posture and joint function to reduce pain and enhance movement
• Endurance and physical activity levels for overall health and wellbeing

These exercises form a vital part of the treatment process, helping individuals regain function and successfully complete daily activities with greater ease.

Regardless of which of these therapeutic routes is used, your occupational therapist will always take a holistic approach to your needs, ensuring that the support they provide is tailored to your personal goals, lifestyle and environment.

How Can I Access Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is available through the NHS, social services and private providers, depending on your situation and needs. Whether you require support for yourself, a family member, or someone you care for, there are different ways to access occupational therapy services.

Many people can access free occupational therapy through the NHS or their local authority. The best way to start is by speaking to your GP, social worker, or another healthcare professional, such as a nurse or physiotherapist. They can refer you to an occupational therapist if they believe you would benefit from one.

You can also check directly with your local council to see if you qualify for support. Find your local council on GOV.UK and search for your local authority’s contact details to enquire about occupational therapy services in your area.

If you prefer to access occupational therapy without waiting for a referral, or if you do not meet the criteria for free support, you can also choose to pay for private therapy. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists provides a list of qualified and registered occupational therapists who offer private services.

Before booking an appointment, it’s important to ask the occupational therapist a few key questions to ensure they meet your needs:

• How long is the waiting time for an appointment?
• Are you registered with the Health and Care Professions Council?
• What is your experience in treating my specific condition?
• What services do you provide, and how much do they cost?
• Do you offer home, workplace or community visits?
• Can you recommend or provide any adaptive equipment?

When speaking to an occupational therapist, whether through the NHS, social services, or a private provider, be ready to describe:

• The difficulties you are facing in daily life
• How these challenges affect your independence and wellbeing
• Any impact on those who care for you, such as family members or support workers

Having this information ready will help the occupational therapist understand your needs and recommend the most appropriate support.