When people think of home care, they often think of personal support workers, nurses, or family doctors. But there is a professional still too little known whose role is nonetheless decisive in maintaining independence at home: the occupational therapist.
At Alliance Santé — Home Support Services, we regularly collaborate with occupational therapists to offer comprehensive support to our clients. Here is what you need to know about this professional and the concrete benefits of home-based occupational therapy.
What Is an Occupational Therapist?
An occupational therapist (OT) is a health professional who helps people perform the activities of their daily life — whether they have limitations due to aging, illness, disability, or injury.
The word “occupational” refers to meaningful activities (occupations) that give life purpose. In short: the OT helps people continue doing what matters to them, by adapting activities or the environment to their current abilities.
In Quebec, occupational therapists are members of the Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec (OEQ) and hold a master’s degree.
What an Occupational Therapist Does at Home
1. Functional Capacity Assessment
The first step is always a comprehensive assessment. The OT observes how the person performs daily activities: getting out of bed, bathing, cooking, dressing, moving through the home and outdoors.
This assessment takes place in the real setting — not in an office, but in the person’s home, with their own furniture and habits.
2. Environmental Assessment
The OT then examines the physical home environment: fall hazards, hard-to-reach areas, modifications needed. The bathroom, kitchen, stairs, entrance — each room is analyzed through the lens of safety and accessibility.
3. Assistive Device Recommendations
Based on these assessments, the OT recommends adapted equipment:
Grab bars and safety handles
Shower or tub seat
Transfer bench
Adapted walker or cane
Ergonomic kitchen utensils
Bath board, raised toilet seat
Hand or foot orthotics or splints
Personal medical alert systems
These devices are prescribed based on the person’s specific needs and may be partially covered by the RAMQ or other programs.
4. Home Modifications
The OT can recommend structural modifications: installing an access ramp, widening a doorway for a wheelchair, installing a stairlift. These recommendations may qualify for government home adaptation subsidies (PAD program).
5. Activity Training and New Strategies
Beyond equipment, the OT trains the person in new strategies for performing activities more safely and effectively. How to dress with a painful arm? How to cook while seated? How to get up from the floor after a fall? These practical skills are invaluable.
6. Family Caregiver Guidance
The OT also trains family caregivers: how to help without creating dependence, how to perform safe transfers, how to adapt activities at home.
When to Consult an Occupational Therapist
Consultation is particularly recommended in these situations:
After hospitalization or surgery
After a stroke or fall with injury
Upon diagnosis of Parkinson’s, arthritis, dementia, or another progressive condition
When the person expresses difficulty performing daily activities
When falls occur or risks are identified at home
When planning a return home after a temporary care facility stay
How to Access Occupational Therapy in Quebec
Through the public system: The family doctor can refer to an OT at the CLSC or rehabilitation centre. Wait times may apply.
Through the private sector: A private OT consultation is available quickly, without a waiting list. The cost varies generally between $100 and $150 per hour. Some private insurance plans reimburse part of these fees.
In collaboration with Alliance Santé: We can refer you to partner occupational therapists in the Saint-Hyacinthe and Montérégie region. Their comprehensive assessment complements our own support and helps optimize the care plan.
Conclusion
Home-based occupational therapy is an investment in the independence, safety, and quality of life of elderly people. It transforms the home into a space where aging well is possible — and it gives families the confidence that their loved one is safe.
Would you like an occupational therapist to assess your loved one’s home? Contact Alliance Santé — we can guide you toward appropriate resources and integrate the recommendations into our care plan.
*Alliance Santé — Home Support Services | alliancesante.ca | Saint-Hyacinthe, Montérégie*
Alliance Santé — alliancesante.ca — Saint-Hyacinthe, Montérégie