Working Life: Aisling Carroll, occupational therapist

I assess patients while washing and dressing to determine their functional ability.

9am

Most of the patients I work with, in Kerry General Hospital, have under-gone hip or knee surgery and the majority are aged over 65. I begin by monitoring daily living. I assess patients, while they are washing and dressing, to determine their ability to undertake daily tasks. This measures their level of independence for dis-charge home. I meet with colleagues to discuss patients’ progress, discharges for that day and new patients. This helps me to prioritise patients.

10am

We break for coffee.

10.30am

Discharge planning begins when the patient is admitted. We look at the home set-up and the support avail-able/required on discharge. My brief includes educating patients, and giving equipment advice and home adaptations. Patients are assessed for their correct sitting height for chairs, toilets and beds. Equipment, such as a raised toilet seat or chair raiser, may be recommended. I work with the multidisciplinary team, especially the physio and nursing staff. We look at how the patient manages transferring: for example, from chair to toilet or from chair to bed. I also prescribe wheelchairs.

1pm

I eat on campus. I live in Charleville, so going home at lunchtime is out.

2pm

I practise techniques with patients, including how to use equipment safely. This may involve equipment for personal-care activities such as shoe horns and pick-up sticks. I may carry out cognitive assessments to determine if someone needs more support on discharge, due to poor recall of instructions or poor safety awareness. It helps when liaising with the family - to ensure they are aware of hip-precaution guidelines, and assist them in setting up a safe environment at home. Patients admitted with falls or with a risk of falls are targeted with a falls-prevention programme.

4pm

I do admin: daily recording patient interventions, reports for discharge, nursing homes and equipment.

5pm

As chair of the intermediate hurling and football committee in Charleville GAA club, evenings are busy.