Occupational Therapy Life Skills Program in a Co-operative Home Study

The purpose of the study reported here, was to determine that the Occupational Therapy Life Program, instituted in a community home for five psychiatric patients during a three month period, was an effective mode of treatment, and as a result, whether Occupational Therapy has a role in community psychiatry. The study was instituted in a co-operative home established by the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital on September 15, 1976. The study was based on the life skills performance of five psychiatric patients, discharged from the hospital directly to the co-operative home. The Occupational Life Skills Training Program was evaluated during four test periods using three assessments: activities of daily living, group functions and leadership acts. The results of the analysis of the data showed an increase in all life skills throughout the treatment period. The study revealed that the Occupational Therapy Life Skills Program discussed is an effective form of treatment for the community co-operative home members. Therefore, the assumption could be made that Occupational Therapy has a role in community psychiatry.