Occupational therapy is a health discipline that aims to promote good health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities.  The purpose of occupational therapy is to help individuals achieve a maximum level of independent living by focusing on the development of their capacity to function in the activities of daily life.  Occupational Therapy is needed when an individual's ability to live independently, to care for personal needs and to participate in work, school, family, and community life is disrupted by illness or injury.

The Occupational Therapist is an important member of the health care team providing services to people of all ages with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities.

The Occupational Therapy Services at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre covers a full range of Rehabilitation Programs for:

• The General Adult Psychiatric (In- Day- and Out-) Patients
• The Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service
• Robert Smith & Day Room
• Geriatric Service
• Substance Abuse Units (Lignum Vitae & Detox)
• Out –patients
• Home Visits/Assessment

The OT Rehab Programmes include the following categories:

I.        Ward Occupational Therapy Programme
The Ward Occupational Therapy Programme is delivered in the ward setting and often acts as a preliminary assessment on a patient’s bedside treatment. This involves training a patient in self-maintenance skills and basic work habits (ward maintenance chores).  Through the programmes, the Occupational Therapist or OT staff is able to observe the patient’s behaviour, and screen and motivate patients for further rehabilitation in the work and community-based programme.  Also the Ward-based Occupational Therapy Programme facilitates the maintenance of the habits and functional abilities of chronic patients.   

Activities include:

1. Activities of Daily Living Skills which assist patients in learning or relearning basic self care skills.
   • Oral Hygiene
   • Grooming
   • Bathing
   • Toilet Hygiene
   • Dressing
   • Feeding / Eating
   • Functional Mobility Wheelchair Management
   • Communication Skills
2. Treatment of performance components i.e. sensory motor components.   

II.        Community & Support Programme
The Community Occupational Therapy Programmes facilitate smooth community reintegration of our patients. Patients of all age ranges qualify to receive treatment regardless of whether or not they are an in-patient, day-patient, out-patient or have community patient status.  The programme is offered to patients in the OT department, prospective group home environment, job placement environment and in the local community.  The principle aim is to achieve, restore and maintain the patient in his/her normal place within the community while offering the patient the best opportunity to enjoy maximum independence in the physical, psychological, social and economic aspects of life.

Activities of the Daily Living Training Programme include:

• Self Care (Oral Hygiene, Grooming, Bathing, Toilet Hygiene, Dressing, Feeding/Eating, Functional Mobility W/C)
• Home Management (Clothing Care, Cleaning, Meal Preparation, Shopping, Household Maintenance, Safety Procedures)
• Communication (Inter- Intra-Personal Skill/ Assertiveness Training)
• Self Management Skills (Coping Skills, Stress Management, Time Management, Self Control)
• Money Management, Budgeting Skills
• Work Rehabilitation Programme (Work Skills Training, On Site Placement)
• Community Awareness Programmes (Visits to various important places in the community)

III.     Physical Occupational Therapy Programme
The Physical Occupational Therapy Programme is a small scale service provided to out-patients and inpatients as the major client groups. Service components include the following:

• Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Assessment
• Upper / lower limb mobilization programme
• Hand function assessment and training
• Recommendation/ Fabrication of splints
• Prescription of aids / gadgets (commercially available)
• Prescription of wheelchairs / walking aids
• Education on handling / transfer techniques
• Cognitive Rehabilitation Programme

Programmes are structured for specific assessment and training purposes and are graded according to the level and needs of the referred patients.

Career Preparation
The assessment is followed by targeted training in vocational adjustment and job preparation skills. Specific job skills training may also be provided on the job.
Training in job-seeking skills includes: résumé writing, cover letter/applications, interviewing, and effective job search techniques.

Self Management Skills
This is normally taught within group sessions and discusses ways to improve client’s Self Management Skills.  Topics include:

• Anger management
• Stress management
• Coping skills
• Time management
• Interpersonal communications
• Conflict Resolution

Art Therapy

Group Therapy

• One-on-one therapy 
• Self awareness 
• Coping skills
• Stress management
• Anger management
• Effective communication skills
• Money management
• Mental health awareness
• Training for Community Reintegration

Group Home Placement

• Nutritional management 
• Home management 
• Self care skills 
• Leisure exploration 
• Community Awareness

Job Placement

• Prevocational Training 
• Placement within a structured work Environment 
• Placement within the institution 
• Garden Project 
• Pillow Making 
• Other departments 
• Placement outside the institution  

Operating Hours
Monday – Friday       
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.