When you’re recovering from a stroke, occupational therapy (OT) can play a key role in your rehabilitation by helping to regain independence and improve quality of life.
You can find qualified occupational therapists on the Mable platform, as well as support workers who can help you implement occupational therapy strategies like rehab exercises and practicing modifications.
How occupational therapy helps stroke patients
Occupational therapy is a diverse area, taking a whole person approach to work with someone to achieve their best health and wellbeing through participation in everyday activities.
As part of a multidisciplinary care team, occupational therapists can help people with physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing challenges after a stroke.
How does a stroke affect a person?
After a stroke, you may experience weakness and mobility challenges and cognitive difficulties like memory loss.
You may also experience a different level of independence in self-care and daily living, which can result in social isolation and withdrawing from your community.
All of this can take an emotional toll, which may reduce your confidence and wellbeing.
Occupational therapy can play a key role in helping you to regain your sense of self by helping you to get back to enjoying the activities you love.
Occupational therapy stroke assessment
By assessing your home environment, occupational therapists can recommend home modifications to make daily activities safer and easier. They can also assist you with activities that will improve your balance and mobility.
An occupational therapist can review your home surroundings and observe you in your daily routine. They will identify trip hazards, mobility issues or problems with lighting, and can make recommendations on any home improvements required.
They will also assess your physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities, and identify any functional limitations and your therapy goals.
The assessment will help you and your support team develop a personalised therapy plan within safe boundaries.
Occupational therapy techniques used in stroke rehabilitation
Occupational therapy techniques play an important role in helping to overcome stroke-related challenges.
Therapists will use different exercises and modifications, such as:
- Strengthening weaker parts of your body like your arms and legs using body weight or equipment.
- Improve your cognitive ability using exercises to improve your memory, attention and problem-solving skills.
- Giving you strategies for managing stress, frustration, and adapting to new routines.
- Training you to use assistive tools and learn modify tasks.
Key roles of occupational therapy after stroke
Relearning daily living activities
After a stroke, some people may need to relearn how to look after themselves and carry out everyday tasks like grooming, dressing, and personal hygiene.
An occupational therapist can train you to practice these in real-life scenarios, while other support workers can help reinforce these skills through hands-on assistance.
Personal care assistance
If you experience limited mobility or challenges with strength and balance, you may find it difficult to have a shower, get dressed and brush your teeth.
Occupational therapists can help by:
- Teaching adaptive dressing techniques (e.g., using one-handed dressing aids)
- Introducing assistive grooming tools like electric toothbrushes and long-handled sponges.
Meal preparation support
After a stroke, it might be a struggle to prepare food if you have a weaker grip or coordination challenges. This can make it more difficult to cut, stir, or open items, and you may find it hard to follow the steps in a recipe.
Occupational therapists can help make this easier by introducing easy-grip utensils, non-slip mats or one-handed cutting boards. They may also be able to teach you step-by-step meal planning strategies.
Independent support workers on Mable can also provide support through meal planning, grocery shopping and assist you with cooking.
Enhancing physical and cognitive functions
Occupational therapy can improve your physical and cognitive abilities, focusing on:
- Improving strength, balance, and coordination
- Memory, attention, and problem-solving.
They may also help you adapt to your home environment, while support workers can help train you on how to use mobility aids such as canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.
Qualified allied health therapists on Mable can provide treatment for people recovering from a stroke, while other support workers can help you practice occupational therapy techniques, help with daily activities and take you to appointments.
Exercise and mobility support
Occupational therapists can help stroke survivors improve physical function through a rehabilitation program that may include:
- Weight-bearing exercises – Your muscle strength may be affected after a stroke. Your occupational therapist may encourage weight-bearing exercises to strengthen the affected muscles.
- Planning of movement – You may have difficulty planning movements after a stroke, even if your arm is not weak. This is called apraxia. Your treating team may suggest you talk about and practise the steps of moving.
- Muscle stiffness – Your muscles may feel stiff and tight and not work like you want them to. An occupational therapist can get you to do gait training to improve walking patterns and posture, and to stretch to prevent stiffness.
Cognitive rehabilitation activities
If you’ve suffered a stroke, you may experience memory loss, or have difficulty concentrating or organising your thoughts, according to the Stroke Foundation.
Occupational therapists can help improve cognitive function through:
- Memory games and recall exercises to strengthen short-term memory
- Sequencing tasks, such as planning a meal or getting dressed in order
- Attention-training exercises like doing a puzzle, or using interactive apps.
Support workers can help you carry out these exercises at home by:
- Practicing memory techniques
- Remind you of your appointments
- Encourage engagement with reading and music.
Adapting home and work environments
To help you get back into the swing of things at home and work, occupational therapists can modify your environments to improve safety and accessibility.
Home modification services
Occupational therapists may recommend home modifications after a stroke. These could include:
- Grab bars in bathrooms for stability
- Non-slip flooring to reduce fall risks
- Raised toilet seats and shower chairs for easier personal care
- Accessible kitchen layouts to improve meal preparation.
An independent support worker on Mable can work with you to encourage practicing daily tasks.
Please note that home modifications may not be covered by your NDIS or aged care funding, and you should make your own enquiries about what your funding can cover when it comes to home modifications. For more information, visit the NDIS Guide on Home Modifications or the AT-HM (Assistive Technology and Home Modifications) Scheme in aged care.
Supporting emotional and social wellbeing
Stroke recovery isn’t just about physical rehabilitation — a stroke can impact your emotional and social wellbeing, too. You may experience depression and anxiety if you can’t do the things you’re used to doing. This can lead to frustration and reduced confidence, while mobility or communication difficulties may make you feel socially isolated.
Social support and community engagement
Social participation is a vital part of stroke recovery, helping to maintain relationships, reduce isolation, and regain confidence. Occupational therapists can support stroke survivors in reconnecting socially by:
- Teaching communication techniques
- Recommending adaptive tools like voice-to-text apps
- Encouraging participation in community programs, group therapy, or volunteering.
These strategies can help individuals regain independence and feel more connected.
An independent support worker on Mable can help by accompanying people to social gatherings, clubs, and community events, providing transportation to therapy or social appointments, and encouraging participation in activities.
Emotional wellbeing and coping strategies
When recovering from a stroke, some people may experience emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, and frustration, which can impact their progress and independence.
Occupational therapists can help to support emotional wellbeing by working with clients to develop coping strategies, build confidence, and set achievable goals. They provide guidance on managing stress, adapting to lifestyle changes, and finding meaningful activities that promote mental wellbeing.
Support workers can provide companionship, reinforce positive habits and self-care routines, and help establish a structured daily routine.
Types of occupational therapy activities in stroke rehabilitation
Occupational therapy exercises for stroke patients
Occupational therapy can play a vital role in stroke recovery by using targeted therapeutic exercises to address physical and cognitive challenges. Exercises are designed to improve specific functions affected by stroke. These can include:
- Range-of-motion exercises help restore movement in weakened or stiff limbs, preventing muscle tightness and improving flexibility.
- Grip-strengthening activities, such as squeezing therapy balls or using resistance putty, enhance hand function, making it easier to perform tasks like holding utensils or buttoning clothes.
- For cognitive recovery, sequencing tasks such as following a recipe or organising items in a specific order can help improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
Unlike general rehabilitation exercises, occupational therapy activities focus on specific challenges. For example, you may first work on grip strength before practicing writing or using utensils. This distinction ensures that therapy is structured, allowing you to rebuild essential skills step by step before applying them to real-life situations.
Practising occupational therapy activities at home
Practicing occupational therapy activities at home can help to regain independence by relearning essential self-care skills. By engaging in real-world tasks, individuals can improve strength, coordination, and cognitive function, making daily activities easier and more manageable.
Several occupational therapy exercises that people can do at home are:
- Dressing practice such as buttoning shirts or tying shoe laces to help rebuild fine motor skills and dexterity.
- Fine motor tasks like stacking blocks or using tweezers to improve hand control for tasks like writing or using utensils.
- Balance and coordination drills including walking or reaching will help improve stability and mobility.
- Meal preparation or making a coffee strengthens problem-solving skills and hand function.
- Shopping and home management activities like navigating a shop or handling money can help you restore confidence in these everyday activities.
Independent support workers on Mable can help you practice these activities, helping to strengthen neural connections and reinforce muscle memory.
How to access occupational therapy support on Mable
At Mable, our community of independent support workers include qualified allied health workers including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, and speech therapists who can all help with stroke recovery.
Through the NDIS or aged care support, you may be eligible to receive support from specialised qualified allied health support workers.
Through the Mable platform, you can access disability and care support workers that can help you with cleaning, transport, domestic tasks and assist you with your rehabilitation.
FAQs
What is the primary goal of occupational therapy after a stroke?
After a stroke, an occupational therapist may work with you in recovery to rebuild skills and confidence, so you can continue to get back to everyday activities and live independently.
Occupational therapists can form part of your support team, so you have a holistic approach to your recovery.
What does an occupational therapist do for stroke patients?
Occupational therapists provide a diverse range of services that they tailor for your individual needs.
They can support your stroke recovery by assessing your home environment and make recommendations for any modifications that will make getting around easier. They may also assist you with activities to help with balance, mobility and cognitive function.
What therapies do most people need after having a stroke?
Common types of therapy used by people who have had a stroke include:
- Physiotherapy helps with relearning motor skills related to assisting you with strengthening muscles and endurance to help with walking, standing, and balance.
- Occupational therapy so you can better participate in everyday activities.
- Speech therapy to help with language and communication, eating and swallowing food.
How soon should occupational therapy begin after a stroke?
Strokes impact people in very different ways, and so rehabilitation plans are different, too. Your medical team will advise if/when it is appropriate to engage with an occupational therapist.
The information provided in this article is general information only and based on current information at the date of publication. In addition to considering the information shared in this article, Mable encourages you to conduct your own research and seek independent advice about managing life after a stroke in your particular set of circumstances. If you wish to use your NDIS or aged care funding on any of the services outlined above, Mable recommends that you check your Support Plan or speak with your Plan Manager to ensure that allied health services are coverable.
