Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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| What is occupational therapy? >> | ||||||
| How can occupational therapy help? >> | ||||||
| When and where can I access occupational therapy? >> | ||||||
| Functional assessments >> | ||||||
| Home Assessments >> | ||||||
| Aids and Equipment >> | ||||||
| Fees and Charges >> | ||||||
| Malfunctions, repair and maintenance of equipment issued by Peter Mac >> | ||||||
| Therapeutic Relaxation >> | ||||||
| Stress Management (positive living) >> | ||||||
| Managing Fatigue >> | ||||||
| Driving Safety >> | ||||||
| Occupational Therapy Staff >> | ||||||
What is occupational therapy? | ||||||
| Occupational Therapists are health professionals who are trained to assist people to manage limitations caused by illness or injury, and the psychological or emotional difficulties, which may result. Their goal is to assist each individual to be as independent as possible maximising personal productivity, well being, and quality of life. For more information on occupational therapy, you may like to view OT Australia's website. | ||||||
How can occupational therapy help? | ||||||
| An occupational therapist will work with you towards your occupational goals. They might suggest different ways of managing symptoms including using equipment so you can do your daily tasks, achieve the best quality of life possible and be as safe, independent and comfortable as you can. | ||||||
| When and where can I access occupational therapy? | ||||||
| If you are an inpatient or registered outpatient you may be eligible to receive occupational therapy services. If you are an outpatient you must be on current or recent treatment or regular 3 monthly review and be able to attend at one of the centres to see an occupational therapist. Referrals are placed on a waiting list according to urgency of need. Our office is at the East Melbourne campus and is staffed weekdays from 8.00am to 4.30pm. Please contact the department on 9656 1234 for information regarding clinic schedule at the Box Hill and Moorabbin satellite centres as this varies. Peter Mac Bendigo: two half-days per week. After hours please leave a message on the Occupational Therapy Department answering machine: 03 9656 1234. | ||||||
| Functional Assessments | ||||||
| Occupational therapists assess how you manage your daily activities. These include self-care, work, leisure, recreation and home/domestic tasks. The OT may give education or advice on adapting to change, managing fatigue, conserving energy, task simplification and adapting your home environment or leisure activities for best function and independence. Managing safely and achieving a good quality of life are central themes. If you are not able to manage independently, then assisting your carers to care for you at home may be the focus. | ||||||
| Home Assessments | ||||||
| Occupational therapists assess the home environment, and may recommend of equipment to make daily living easier. This equipment can enable safety, independence and comfort to be maintained at home. Peter Mac OT Home Assessment region is the same as the PeterMac@Home visit area. Inpatients living outside this area will be referred to local services for Home Assessment. Our therapists can visit you at home if you have been an inpatient at Peter Mac within the last 30 days. If you are an Outpatient or were discharged from Peter Mac more than 30 days before you may be redirected to your local community health service for a home assessment. | ||||||
| Aids and Equipment | ||||||
| An occupational therapist may recommend certain items that could reduce effort or create a safer environment. Peter Mac equipment may be issued to patients living within PeterMac@Home area. Inpatients needing specialist items such as hospital beds or going home to rural and regional areas will get their equipment from a local hire company. Your occupational therapist will work out what is best for you For other equipment arrangements see: | ||||||
| www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disability/ | ||||||
| Ongoing Equipment Needs >> | ||||||
Fees and Charges | ||||||
| If you have been in hospital, equipment needed for safe discharge is free of charge for the first 30 days and is then you will receive a monthly account. If an OT has arranged equipment from another supplier we will pay the hire for the first 30 days. After this time you are required to pay any hire charges. Outpatients may hire equipment at the same monthly rate but the hire costs commence from date of issue. You will be required to pay for any courier fees and items purchased and will receive an invoice at the time of issue. | ||||||
| OT Price List >> | ||||||
| OT Hire Agreement >> | ||||||
Malfunctions, repair and maintenance of equipment issued by Peter Mac | ||||||
| If there are any defects in equipment issued by Peter Mac you should report this to the occupational therapy department as soon as possible to ensure safety for you and your carers can be maintained. Equipment is expensive and we try to keep loan stock in good condition. We request you assist us by using and storing equipment carefully. You should return equipment in a clean condition. If necessary, a courier pick-up can be arranged at your cost. If possible, do not remove mattress and cushion covers, as disinfection is then difficult. Please discuss with your therapist if you think this is necessary. | ||||||
Therapeutic Relaxation | ||||||
| It is well recognised that a diagnosis of cancer places increased demands on a person. Occupational therapists at Peter Mac offer group and individual Stress Management sessions for patients and family members. Therapeutic relaxation is one of the strategies suggested to regain balance in life. Many people find relaxation beneficial to reduce symptoms such as fatigue, pain and nausea. It is something you can do to help yourself and enhance your well-being. Therapeutic relaxation is an active process that can be achieved in a variety of ways. It involves concentration on certain routines of muscle relaxation, imagery and breathing. As a result, the body's heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and even body temperature can be lowered. People report a sense of well-being as well as physical benefits. | ||||||
| Relaxation Therapy Fact Sheet >> | ||||||
Stress Management | ||||||
| In addition to relaxation techniques, stress management is offered to assist individuals and families to modify aspects of their lifestyle that increase anxiety and stress. The weekly relaxation sessions includes education and group discussion about a range of topics. Many people find it helpful to discuss issues with others in a similar situation. The physical effects of stress, identifying what is stressful, what you can do about it, realistic patterns of thinking and choosing your reactions are some of the topics discussed. Ultimately, everyone makes his/her choice about how to achieve a sense of well-being. These sessions offer a 'menu' of strategies to choose from. Once again, you can be in control. | ||||||
| 'Daydreaming' - a compact disc has been developed by Occupational Therapists at Peter Mac. The disc comprises 4 tracks with music and voice that guides the listener through different Therapeutic Relaxation routines. A fifth musical track without voice provides an additional option. 'Daydreaming' was conceived by Elizabeth Pearson as a result of requests from people who wanted guided practice in Relaxation to take home. It is her voice and the music of Julian Hardy-Smith that listeners will find relaxing. Andrea Lockwood has created the 'Daydreaming' artwork for the CD cover. It may be unique, in that Occupational Therapists have created all the words, music, voice and artwork. 'Daydreaming' can now be purchased from the Occupational Therapy Department at Peter Mac, and costs $20.00, plus postage and handling if required. To order, post or fax the Order Form (pdf) . All proceeds to Peter Mac. | ||||||
Managing Fatigue | ||||||
| Cancer and cancer treatments are known to be associated with fatigue. This fatigue can range from mild and temporary, right through to severe and constant - and affecting your quality of life. There are some things you can do to lessen the intensity and duration of fatigue. As the number of people who survive cancer is increasing, more research into the important area of fatigue is being done. Fatigue does not mean your cancer treatment is not effective. Fatigue should be assessed regularly and attention given to the following: | ||||||
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| Pratical ways of dealing with cancer related fatigue>> | ||||||
Driving Safety | ||||||
| Occupational therapists are often asked about whether a person should be driving if they are physically impaired. This can be a difficult subject to discuss, because driving is so important to many of us in maintaining our independence. However, your safety and that of other road users need to be considered. Some medical conditions, treatments and medications can affect your ability to drive safely. It is important to discuss with your doctor or health professional whether you should continue driving during and after treatment. | ||||||
Occupational Therapy Staff | ||||||
| Elizabeth Pearson (M,T,Th,F) Head of Department Pager 1207, ext 1235 / 1234 Jane Farrow Senior Clinician Occupational Therapist Pager 1285, ext 1234 Rachel Allen (T,W,Th) Occupational Therapist Pager 1226, ext 1234 Olivia Doidge Occupational Therapist Pager 1334, Ext 1234 Jenni Bourke (M,T,W,Th) Occupational Therapist Pager 1107, Ext 1234 Bronwyn Berry Office Manager (also O/T Secretary) Ext 1234 / 3079 |
