Celebrating Occupational Therapy Month: Supporting Independence and Quality of Life

Occupational therapists play a vital role in helping older adults maintain independence in their daily routines while also ensuring safe movement, self-care, and cognitive health. In recognition of Occupational Therapy Month, we interviewed Tyler Sell, a Registered Occupational Therapist associated with Functional Pathways, to learn about their motivation for choosing this field, what a typical day entails, and the significance of their work.

What motivated you to choose a career in occupational therapy?

• I wanted to help all populations live life to the fullest despite what challenges they may have faced or are currently facing.

How would you define the function of occupational therapy within aging services?

• I would describe it as focusing on helping older adults maintain independence and quality of life by supporting their ability to safely perform everyday activities while adapting tasks or environments to match their changing physical or cognitive needs.

What services does an occupational therapist typically offer?

• Occupational therapists offer services that help people stay independent and safe in their daily lives, especially as they age. These include assessing daily function, personalized therapy plans, safety evaluations, use of adaptive equipment, cognitive support, caregiver education, pain management, and energy conservation.

Can you walk us through a typical day in your role?

• A typical day in my role involves checking for new admissions to evaluate, performing activities of daily living with residents in long-term care or short-term rehab.  From there, I typically work with many outpatient assisted living and independent living residents in this community.  I also work frequently with self-feeding, wheelchair positioning, wheelchair mobility, and bracing/splinting.

Could you share a success story supporting your passion for this work?

• I have a lot of success stories that support my passion, but some of my biggest ones involve getting custom wheelchairs for residents to ensure comfort and to allow for the highest level of independence in regard to mobility.

What are some misconceptions about occupational therapy?

• Some common misconceptions about occupational therapy include that people associate this with trying to help people strictly get back into the workforce.  Another misconception is that occupational therapy is the same as physical therapy, especially in the retirement community.

What guidance would you provide for someone considering a career in occupational therapy, particularly within the aging services sector?

• I would recommend that they gain hands-on experience, volunteer, or work in settings like hospitals, rehab centers, or nursing homes to understand what occupational therapists do and build relevant experiences.

During Occupational Therapy Month, we thank all occupational therapy professionals for the care, compassion, and expertise they bring to aging services every day.