Occupational therapy role in women's health
OT supports people of all ages throughout their life span to maximize their participation in activities of daily living. OT offers support with changing life roles and occupations. OT uses activity analysis and a strengths focused approach, and then breaks down challenges into small achievable goals. OT recognizes the expected and unexpected changes that can occur across the lifespan and works to ensure that people have the skills to occupy their time in ways that are meaningful to them at all ages. Changing life roles are unique during menopause, and can be highly complex and overwhelming. There are limited resources available for women in balancing roles of caregiving of parents and/or a spouse while perhaps also parenting young, teenaged or adult children.
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All of this makes occupational therapists natural team members in collaborative, relationship focused women’s health care. I want to help women thrive in this phase of life, and also help to bridge the gaps in our current health system. I would like to counteract the stigma of menopause, which is a normal and healthy part of aging/life and I believe the response to menopause should not be disease focused. I also want to support young women in their pre-menopause phase of life and arm them early with the knowledge and skills to advocate for their health care.
