Why do I need an Occupational Therapist?

Nancy Hillmer - Ask the Parkinson's Expert

Nancy Hillmer has been an occupational therapist (OT) at Boulder Community Health in Boulder, CO for over 35 years. And for the past decade, she's specialized in working with people living with Parkinson's.

Many people with Parkinson's don't realize they could benefit from working with an OT until their mobility is severely compromised. However, the more time you spend with an OT early in your diagnosis, the more equipped you will be to handle changes in your mobility as they arise.

In this video, Nancy explains exactly what OTs can do for people with Parkinson's and the value of working with an OT sooner rather than later to prevent functional decline.

What to Expect When You Begin Working with an OT

The OTs goal is to help you create a safe and comfortable environment. In order to do that, together you will:

  1. Identify the problem
  2. Come up with a plan
  3. Evaluate its effectiveness
  4. Modify if you need to

4 Factors that Influence Function

  1. You
  2. Method (how you do whatever you're trying to do)
  3. Environment
  4. Assistance required (the kind of help you need to perform certain tasks)

Mentioned in this Video

Parkinson's Wellness Recovery
LSVT Big
Allied Team Training for Parkinson's

Learn More About Creating a Safe Environment in Your Home

Over the course of several months, we asked people with Parkinson’s, occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs) and care partners some of the most instrumental changes people with Parkinson’s can make to their home.

We then put all the information we gathered together and created The Parkinson's Home Safety Checklist to help you make your home a great place to live comfortably with Parkinson’s. Download the complimentary checklist here.

And, be sure to reach out to an OT today!

Do you have a question you'd like one of our Parkinson's experts to answer?

Complete the form below, and we'll either add it to our video series queue, or we'll respond directly.

[gravityform id="12" title="true" description="true"]

Share this post on social:

To receive our electronic newsletter and other updates, sign up now.

Related Posts

Back to top