About us

Here at Theresa Swart Occupational Therapists we are passionate about people, with a focus on improving quality of life.

We are occupational therapists with more than 40 years experience in working with people of all ages, stages of life and diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

We focus on helping clients to regain their independence with confidence after injury or illness whilst maintaining dignity and respect.

We believe in taking a holistic approach that is suitable to each individual client’s needs.

Theresa Swart Occupational Therapists operate out of two facilities:

• Lynnmed Facility
• Waterkloof Facility

Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation.

The primary goal is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. OTs achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement.

Our occupational therapists promote engagement and quality of life for their clients by evaluating their remaining abilities and then utilising those strengths to facilitate participation in daily occupations. OTs are uniquely qualified to analyse tasks and determine where a person is experiencing challenges and where or how the client will benefit from support.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

There are two types of activities of daily living, namely basic and instrumental. Basic ADLs are activities performed on a daily basis necessary for independent living at home or in the community whereas instrumental ADLs are actions required to live independently but are not necessarily performed on a daily basis. Examples of basic ADLs include: personal hygiene, dressing, eating, maintaining continence, and transferring/ mobility. Examples of instrumental ADLs are: basic communication skills (using a telephone/email), transportation, meal preparation, housework, shopping, managing medication, and managing personal finances.

Independent Living

Individual care for levels of independence with regards to ADL and home safety evaluations, environmental adaptations, assistive device recommendations and sourcing, and pre- and post-operative support/return to home. Group care focusses on community engagement through intergenerational gardening groups, art and craft groups, social outings, and music or dance groups.

Frail Care Living

Individual care is provided through assistive device recommendations and sourcing, pre- and postoperative support/return to home, level of independence regarding ADL evaluations, family support meetings, and physical rehabilitation. Group therapy includes wheelchair mobility groups, art and craft groups, cognitive stimulation groups, gardening groups, pet therapy, and sensory stimulation groups.

Dementia Care (early to mid stages)

We evaluate and develop individual care plans for each client to maintain skills for as long as possible, including ensuring the environment is dementia friendly and through reminiscence therapy. For groups, we make use of reminiscence groups, music groups, art and craft groups, pet therapy, gardening groups, cognitive stimulation groups, and family support groups.

Dementia Care (late stage)

During later stages of dementia, therapeutic goals are to preserve the client’s dignity, ensure their physical comfort and maintain quality of life. Selected activities are predominantly sensory in nature and sessions are shorter and spread out throughout the day, making this the ideal setting to train family members and care givers in different sensory stimulation techniques. Activities may include: hand massage, sensory bean bags, scent stimulation, photo albums, pet therapy, finer grooming (hair brushing, applying makeup) using hand over hand technique, and going for walks in the sensory garden.

The Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa
OTASA is a non-profit professional organisation representing the interests of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants across South Africa.

South African Society Of Hand Therapists
Hand therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper limb – from the shoulder to the hand. Hand therapy assists a person to regain maximum use of his or her upper limb after injury, surgery or the onset of disease.

Alzheimer’s South Africa
Alzheimer’s SA is the leader in the field of Alzheimer’s and dementia in South Africa, providing support, education, training and information on matters pertaining to dementia.

HEADWAY Gauteng
HEADWAY Gauteng was started in 1995 and it is a fully registered welfare organisation dedicated to assisting people with an acquired brain injury.

Lynnmed Clinic
Lynnmed Clinic is a 21-bed Sub-Acute Hospital, registered with the BHF (Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa) and annually inspected by the Gauteng Department of Health. Our practice number enables us to gain authorization for admission from you.