Occupational therapy and reablement

Occupational therapy is a short-term service that aims to improve your ability to do everyday tasks if you're having difficulties. It can support you to live with more confidence and independence, and improve your health and wellbeing. 

An Occupational Therapist helps you live your best life - whether this is at home, at work or anywhere else. The focus is on your wellbeing and ability to participate in activities. It’s about being able to do the things you want and have to do.

Your therapist will consider your strengths, abilities and health care needs. They will find out what you want to be able to do and then consider if your environment supports or hinders you to do this. They can then find ways to make life easier. 

This could include:

• learning new ways of doing things
• regaining skills and developing new ones
• specialist equipment to help with daily tasks - this could be through the Gloucestershire Equipment Loan Service
• minor or major adaptations to your home.  

It's important to remember that an 'occupation' isn’t just your job or activities of daily living. An occupation can be self-care, such as washing, eating or sleeping; productive, such as work, study, caring or domestic activities; and leisure, such as playing sports, hobbies or socialising.

Reablement

Reablement is a short period (up to 6 weeks) of intensive support in your home to help you maintain or regain independence. It usually follows a period of illness, disability or sudden event that leads to an impact on your usual abilities.

It also can help you and your family think about your care needs and plan for the future.

Request an assessment

If you, or a member of your family, are having difficulties with day-to-day living at home due to a physical disability, sensory impairment or old age, you can request a free occupational therapy assessment. 

Contact the Adult Social Care Helpdesk to find out how we can help you and to request an assessment.

Alternatively, you can complete our online Therapy Referral form.

What does it cost?

You can get occupational therapy free through the NHS or social services, depending on your situation. You can also pay for it yourself.

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists lists qualified and registered occupational therapists.

Our paying for your care page explains about eligibility for financial support.