World Occupational Therapy Day: Why Having an Occupational Therapist at Fen Mobility Makes a Difference

By Sara, Occupational Therapist at Fen Mobility Centre

Today, 27 October, is World Occupational Therapy Day. It's an opportunity to celebrate a profession that doesn't always get the recognition it deserves, but which makes an enormous difference to people's everyday lives.

As an Occupational Therapist, it's a day that's particularly close to my heart. I've spent more than 17 years helping people find ways to live more comfortably, safely and independently, and it's something I'm just as passionate about today as when I first started.

It's also a big part of why we do things a little differently at Fen Mobility Centre.

What does an Occupational Therapist actually do?

It's a question I've been asked more times than I can remember!

Despite the name, occupational therapy isn't just about helping people return to work. In our profession, an 'occupation' is essentially anything you need or want to do in your everyday life.

That might mean getting out of bed in the morning, making yourself a cup of tea, having a shower, getting dressed or going to the shops.

For someone else, it might mean being able to get back into the garden, visit friends, take the dog for a walk or enjoy a family day out.

These are the things that make life feel like life.

When illness, disability, injury or simply getting older makes those activities more difficult, an Occupational Therapist looks at the whole picture. We consider the person, their environment, their abilities and what matters most to them.

Sometimes a small change can make a surprisingly big difference.

Why Fen Mobility Centre?

When I took over the reins at Fen Mobility Centre, I wanted to bring that same approach into a mobility showroom.

I'd seen how frustrating it could be for people and their families to navigate mobility equipment, particularly when they weren't sure what they needed or where to start.

It's easy to look at a mobility scooter, a riser recliner or an adjustable bed and focus on the features. How fast does it go? How much weight can it carry? What colours are available?

Of course, those things matter. But they're rarely the most important questions.

The first question should be: What are you trying to achieve?

Perhaps someone wants to continue going to the village shop independently. Perhaps they're struggling to stand from their favourite chair. Or perhaps a family member is finding it increasingly difficult to help a loved one get in and out of bed.

Understanding the problem comes before recommending the equipment.

That's the thinking behind Fen Mobility Centre.

The right product isn't always the most expensive

One of the things I feel strongly about is that good advice shouldn't depend on how much someone is prepared to spend.

Sometimes the solution is a relatively inexpensive piece of daily living equipment. A properly positioned grab rail, a suitable walking aid or a simple change to the way a room is arranged can make everyday activities much easier.

At other times, something more substantial might be needed, such as a specialist chair, an electric profiling bed or a powered wheelchair.

And sometimes, after talking things through, we might suggest that someone needs further clinical advice or an assessment before buying anything.

That's absolutely fine.

I'd much rather someone leave us with the right advice than purchase something that isn't suitable.

Looking beyond the showroom

Not everyone can easily visit a mobility centre, and even when they can, trying equipment in a showroom doesn't always tell the whole story.

A chair that feels wonderful in a showroom might not fit comfortably into someone's living room. A mobility scooter that seems ideal might struggle with the entrance to their property or the surfaces they regularly travel over.

That's why home assessments and demonstrations can be so valuable.

Being able to see how someone lives, understand the space available and talk through their daily routine helps us make more informed recommendations.

It also gives family members the chance to ask questions. Often they're worried about things their loved one hasn't thought to mention, or they're trying to balance safety with someone's very understandable desire to remain independent.

There's rarely a perfect answer to every situation, but taking the time to understand it properly is a good place to start.

Independence means different things to different people

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about mobility equipment is that using it somehow means giving up independence.

In reality, the opposite is often true.

A mobility scooter might allow someone to continue meeting friends, visiting the local shops or getting out into the countryside.

A riser recliner might mean being able to stand without needing help from a partner.

An adjustable bed might make getting comfortable at night easier, or reduce the physical strain on someone providing care.

None of these things is about giving up. They're about finding ways to carry on doing the things that matter. And that, for me, is what occupational therapy has always been about.

A thank you to my fellow Occupational Therapists

On World Occupational Therapy Day, I'd also like to recognise the many Occupational Therapists working across our hospitals, community services, schools, care settings and private practices.

It's a wonderfully varied profession, and much of the work happens quietly, behind the scenes.

A successful outcome might be something as simple as helping someone prepare their own breakfast again, return home after a hospital stay or feel confident using their bathroom safely.

Those achievements might sound small to someone else, but to the person involved, they can mean everything.

Come and have a chat

At Fen Mobility Centre in Ely, we try to bring that understanding into every conversation we have with our customers.

We're proud to be a mobility centre led by an Occupational Therapist, but what matters most is what that means for the people who come through our doors.

Whether you're looking for equipment for yourself, helping a parent or relative, or simply wondering what options might be available, you're always welcome to come in and talk things through.

You don't need to know exactly what you're looking for. That's

what we're here to help with.

Happy World Occupational Therapy Day to all my fellow OTs!

SaraOccupational Therapist and Co-ownerFen Mobility Centre, Ely

Fen Mobility CentreServing Ely, Cambridge, Huntingdonshire and the surrounding areas of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Visit www.fenmobility.com or contact our team to arrange a visit or discuss a home assessment.