Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy (OT) is the practice of helping people participate in everyday functional activities that are important to them. During therapy a clinician considers the environment, the desired activity, and the client's unique makeup (personal and performance factors) to guide a plan of care. The aim is to facilitate best independence while addressing barriers and/or deficits.

It is client-focused and collaborative in nature, involving the client, clinicians, and caregivers if and when appropriate. It focuses on outcomes. These include functional performance, improvement, enhancement, prevention, health and wellness, quality of life, role competence, well-being, and occupational justice.

Intervention approaches can involve the following: to create and/or promote activity and contextual experiences (health promotion); to establish a new skill or restore one that's been impacted (remediation/restoration); to maintain current performance; to modify a current activity or context (compensate, adaptation); to prevent the occurrence or development of barriers (disability prevention).

Specific goals can include: self-care/hygiene, fine motor control and coordination, sensory processing, environmental modifications, use of assistive devices/adaptive equipment, disease management, safety.

Areas covered include anything and everything a person does with their day: get dressed in the morning, prepare a meal, go to the store, participate in school, work or social activities, sleep. OT can focus on activities of daily living (ADLs) such as personal care; bathing or showering, dressing, getting in and out of bed or a chair, walking, using the toilet, eating, sexuality and/or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as money management, managing appointments, managing housekeeping/meal prep, managing transportation, shopping, communication via telephones/computers, pet care, hobbies, socializing.

OT can be applied across the lifespan. It can support persons living with autism/ID and their parents/caregivers. It can support education for improved staff care and coordination.

What spaces does the client occupy? Wherever the client is, whether in the home or in the community, OT can occur. It can occur while using transportation, getting ready for bed, attending a worship service, taking a trip to the museum, organizing their collection of cards/books/DVDs, etc.

We also provide OT services in our Community Center in Carnegie, PA. We are equipped with a simulated living space to work on a variety of OT goals.

Jeff Brunner, Occupational Therapist

Jeff Brunner is an Occupational Therapist and Pittsburgh native. He joined Three Rivers Community Care in February 2023 after working in skilled nursing facilities and providing direct care to adults autistic adults living with intellectual disabilities

Jeff holds master degrees from Chatham University and the University of Pittsburgh in occupational therapy and library and information science, respectively. Prior to a career change, he worked in museum and library settings focusing on collections management, technology, and user services.

Jeff believes in the importance of using every day activities as a means to increase one's independence, health, and well-being. He's honored to serve clients and their families through collaboration, education, and advocacy to help establish an individual's best autonomy and participation within their world.

In addition, Jeff enjoys spending time with family and friends, working on art projects, and being outdoors.