Occupational therapists (OT) can work with veterans in many different settings across the continuum of care including acute hospitals, outpatient clinics, community living centers, veteran’s homes, and teletherapy (Veteran Administration, n.d.). OTs are able to provide services in the natural home setting to ensure the individual can cook meals, take care of themselves and pets, manage medical appointments, and other activities of daily living (ADLs) (Duddy, 2015). An OT can work with the individual to identify safety hazards around the home, navigate transportation options, sleep/rest, work productivity, and social/leisure activities (Duddy, 2015; Kerr et al., 2020).

Occupational therapy interventions are often necessary after a combat-related injury/illness such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and/or physical mobility challenges. Veterans face a unique challenge, in that they could be living with all three conditions and more, which require careful adaptation and modification in their environments. The focus of an occupational therapy intervention with the veteran population is often on helping the veteran find a sense of normalcy, purpose, and meaning in post-discharge life (Kerr et al., 2020).

Helpful Links:

• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): Occupational Therapy & Helping Veterans

• AOTA: Occupational Therapy & PTSD

• Veterans Helping Veterans

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Occupation-Based Assessments:

• Occupational therapists (OT) can work as a consultant with training facilities to conduct occupational assessments such as:

  • The Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool

    • ​Addresses client's motivation for occupation, the pattern of occupation, communication/interaction, process, and motor skills, and environment.

  • The Service Animal Adaptive Intervention Assessment by Zapf & Rough (2002).

    • Assesses the client's functional problem areas & skills, environment, goals, equipment used, service animal predisposition match, social characteristics, resources, treatment care plan, and functional outcomes. ​

  • The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure

    • ​Identifies challenges that are personally important to the client and determines changes in self-perception of occupational performance over time.

  • The AOTA Occupational Profile

    • A summary of the client's occupational history and experiences including supports and barriers to participation in meaningful occupations.​

  • The Modified Interest Checklist 

    • Gathers information about the client's interest and engagement in over 60 areas of activities in the past, present, and future.​ 

Occupational Therapy Interventions:​

• Advocacy: as an OT you can work with your clients to advocate for themselves and their need for a service dog. You can also advocate for the involvement of occupational therapy services at your local service dog training facilities including having an OT on the evaluation/intake team, and in referring VA health clinics.

• Tasks: the OT can assist the new handler in creating a list of tasks for the service dog to be trained in based on their occupational needs. This list can be addressed with the training team during dog selection.

• Routines: the OT can work with the handler before the match to address daily routines and how they will change to accommodate caring for the dog. This would include morning routines, work routines, sleep hygiene, etc.

• Community Integration: the OT can connect the veteran with local resources and support groups. 

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