Occupational Therapy in Oncology and Palliative Care

The range of services available to people suffering from acute cancer through to any life threatening illness has changed dramatically since 1990, and the emphasis is no longer on medical and nursing staff only but on multidisciplinary team work. Care is concentrated on maintaining clients in their own homes by symptom control and home care support, including the valuable contribution of occupational therapy. Occupational therapists work very closely with clients and can assist in any stage of illness from health promotion to the later stages when disabilities may be more severe. In palliative care the skills of the occupational therapist enable certain aspects of the client's and carer's lives to be assessed, addressing the physical, functional, psychological and social components and also considering the adaptive behaviour, the correction of underlying problems and/or changes in environment which, together with the skills of the members of the interdisciplinary team, maximise independence and quality of life for dying patients and their carers.
This book encourages occupational therapists to develop their analytical skills and their problem solving abilities in assessing each case and arriving at the most appropriate care solutions. It also encourages them to appreciate the value of their contribution to cancer and palliative care and to be aware of how exciting and rewarding their work can be.