By Susan Taplinger
Read Time: 3 mins.
Daily life doesn’t pause for illness, injury, or physical change. People still need to move through their homes, care for loved ones, and participate in work, school, and community life. When those tasks become harder — or riskier — occupational therapy (OT) helps people adapt and stay engaged with what matters most.
During Occupational Therapy Month, we’re spotlighting the tools, strategies, and expertise that help individuals build strength, restore skills, and reestablish meaningful routines.
Dynarex offers a wide range of premium products that support occupational therapy, including bathroom safety supplies, mobility aids, and patient lifts.
From Crayons to Canes
Occupational therapists work across the lifespan — helping children develop motor skills, guiding adults through recovery, and supporting older adults adjusting to changes in mobility, memory, or strength. They also assist individuals managing chronic illness, mental health conditions, or sensory processing challenges.
To help people participate fully in daily life, therapists match needs with practical strategies and tools that improve comfort, safety, and access.
Rethinking Risk: Smarter, Safer Bathrooms
The bathroom is one of the most hazardous areas of the home — but also one of the most essential. Therapists help transform these spaces to reduce risk and support independence. Depending on the individual’s needs, they may recommend:
- Installing grab bars to assist with sitting, standing, and maintaining balance
- Providing shower chairs and transfer benches to reduce fatigue and support safer bathing
- Adding raised toilet seats and non-slip mats to minimize strain and help prevent slipping
- Improving lighting and reorganizing storage to support those with cognitive or visual impairments
In addition to equipment, they may suggest modified routines that help make personal care and hygiene tasks safer and more manageable.
Walking the Line: Mobility Made Easier
Mobility challenges can limit independence and increase fall risk. To support safer, more confident movement, occupational therapists assess how individuals navigate their spaces — getting out of bed, stepping over thresholds, or moving through busy rooms — and may:
- Fit walkers and rollators to the user’s frame and gait to reduce fatigue and improve posture
- Select canes and quad canes based on balance needs, grip strength, and typical terrain
- Recommend patient lifts to enable safer transfers while easing physical strain on caregivers
They also teach safe movement techniques such as transfer sequencing, use of environmental landmarks, and pacing strategies that help conserve energy.
Independence on the Menu
After injury or illness, the kitchen can shift from a place of comfort to a source of stress. Occupational therapists use adaptive tools and targeted strategies to make meal preparation safer and more accessible.
To restore confidence in the kitchen, they often use weighted utensils to help steady hands affected by tremors or weakness and recommend rocker knives that enable safe, effective one-handed cutting.
They may also introduce tools such as jar grippers, one-handed openers, and utensil cuffs to simplify food preparation tasks. In addition to equipment, therapists frequently suggest seated prep areas, visual task lists, or reorganization of kitchen supplies to improve efficiency and reduce fatigue.
Tools That Rebuild Routine
This Occupational Therapy Month, we celebrate the creativity, expertise, and care behind every OT recommendation. Thoughtfully chosen tools restore autonomy, reduce strain, and help people reconnect with the rhythm of daily life. Each recommendation supports forward motion — helping individuals reenter their routines with more confidence, control, and comfort.
Explore Dynarex Bathroom Safety and Mobility Products