Health and Wellness


Occupational therapists develop and provide health promotion and disease/disability prevention programs and services. These health promotion programs and services may target individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and policymakers. The focus is to: (a) prevent or reduce the incidence of illness, accidents, and injuries in the population; (b) improve the overall health and well-being of persons with chronic conditions or disabilities and their caregivers; and (c) promote healthy living practices, social opportunities, and healthy communities. 

The University of Southern California (USC) Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy has developed a Well-Elderly Program, which has been a significant event in health promotion occupational therapy practice. From this program, the intervention protocol that evolved was called, "lifestyle redesign" and has indicated that preventative occupational therapy enhances health and quality of life of individuals.

Information on this page was retrieved from Pedretti's Occupational Therapy Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction