What an occupational therapist does

An occupational therapist (OT) evaluates a person's ability to perform the activities of daily life — bathing, dressing, cooking, using the toilet, moving through the home — and makes recommendations to improve safety and independence.

OTs also assess cognitive function as it relates to daily tasks, evaluate home environments for safety risks, and recommend adaptive equipment or home modifications.

Why OT reports are valuable for CLSC assessments

The CLSC uses standardized assessment tools — including tools focused on functional capacity — that map closely to what OTs evaluate. An OT report provides:

• A professional, standardized functional assessment — written by a regulated health professional using recognized tools
• Specific, documented limitations — what the person can and cannot do, and under what conditions
• Safety recommendations — OTs are trained to identify risks that may not be visible to family members
• Equipment and modification recommendations — which can become part of the care plan

An OT report from another source (a hospital OT, a private practice OT, or a previous CLSC referral) can directly inform a CLSC reassessment.

How to get an OT assessment

Through the CLSC: Your care coordinator can request an OT referral. This is the most common route and is covered by the public system, though wait times vary.

Through a hospital: If the person was recently hospitalized, an OT assessment may have been completed as part of discharge planning. Request a copy of this report from the hospital's records department.

Privately: Some families choose to pay for a private OT assessment, particularly if wait times for public services are long. This may be appropriate if you have a reassessment coming up soon and need documentation quickly.

What the report should contain

A useful OT report includes:

• Assessment of independence in activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Observations about mobility, balance, and fall risk
• Cognitive function as it relates to safety
• Home environment evaluation
• Equipment or modification recommendations
• The OT's professional recommendations for care

What should I gather next?

See the Medical Documentation Checklist for a full overview of what to collect before an assessment or reassessment.