Adele Baker is an occupational therapist at Temora Health Service and provides inpatient and community occupational support across Temora, West Wyalong and Lake Cargelligo. Photo: Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
Occupational therapist Adele Baker finds her job at Temora Health Service a rewarding one, allowing her to support clients and make positive impacts in their lives.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) occupational therapist provides inpatient and community occupational therapy support across Temora, Lake Cargelligo and West Wyalong.
“I love the range of places I see and people I get to meet along the way,” Adele said.
“It is rewarding to see that the recommendations I make to support clients with daily living activities actually make real and positive impacts on their lives.”
Occupational therapists focus on promoting health and wellbeing by enabling people to participate in life’s everyday tasks, such as self-care activities.
These include showering, dressing, preparing food, education, work, volunteering and caring for others, engaging in a hobby, and being part of a friendship group.
Occupational therapists work with those who have cognitive, mental, physical, social, developmental and emotional challenges and disabilities.
They also play a critical role in helping those with a disability to identify and implement that support participation in occupations.
Adele’s role also involves equipment prescription and home modifications.
Equipment prescription is when an occupational therapist helps people identify and choose assistive equipment to make them more independent and mobile. People will be mainly prescribed mobility-related equipment including scooters, walking frames or walking sticks.
With home modifications, the occupational therapist can advise of options and considerations, make recommendations for installation according to building standards and experience, or review and advise on building plans. Recommendations can include grab rails, lever taps, accessible bathroom designs, ramps and step ramps.
Adele says it’s often the simple strategies that are most satisfying to recommend, especially when the client says, “Ah, that’s such a good idea!”.
Before taking the job at MLHD, she worked within the NDIS and occupational rehabilitation sectors.
Adele says she loves the opportunities that arise from working with a wider team.
“It is wonderful to openly collaborate and to draw on each other’s expertise for maximal client outcomes,” she said.
“I did not fully appreciate until now how close-knit the communities can be in regional areas. It is such a strength when you see people in the community looking out for each other.
“Little things are so easy to weave into my routine now. I now enjoy cycling the short distance to work, although this has made me learn to check the rain forecast a bit more often!”
To find out more about occupational therapy services at MLHD, click here.
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