Tutorial two: Occupational Engagement, Doing, Being, Becoming and Belonging

Breakfast group

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Breakfast Group (preparing, eating, navigating, kitchen assessment)

In fieldwork one, I was involved in the breakfast group that being facilitated by the therapists (either occupational therapists or physiotherapists). At that stage, I was a first year student, and was on the ‘observational’ level and paralleled (almost) all the time to my supervisor during my placement.

I chose this occupation because this was my regular schedule from 8am to 9am on Tuesdays and Thursdays whether my supervisor was on or not.

It gave me great grasp on what an OT does in a rehabilitation ward and I was able to learn things from other therapists.

Do, Be, Become, Belonging defined

“Occupation, though, is more than ‘doing’. It is a synthesis of doing, being and becoming.” (Wilcock, 1998, p. 341).

“Doing is important that it is impossible to envisage the world of humans without it. People spend their lives almost constantly engaged in purposely ‘doing’ even when free of obligation or necessity” (Wilcock, 1998, p. 22 cited in Wilcock 1998 p. 249).

Being is the matter of existence, living and having someone’s presence (Wilcock, 1998). From a dictionary, becoming means ‘coming to be’ (Funk & Wagnall, 1984, p.56 cited in Wilcock, 1998). Belonging is to “describe the necessary contribution of social interaction, mutual support and friendship and the sense of being included, to occupational performance and life satisfaction” (Reibero et al. 2001, cited in Hammel 2004).

In my placement, patients who attend breakfast group have one common goal that is to be discharge from hospital and go home. Patients who belong on the rehabilitation ward have the chance to ‘be’ in the breakfast group (see figure 18). Being in the breakfast group, therapist are able to assess them by doing or engaging with the tasks (see figures 6, 7 & 8), patients are being assessed on their progress, the more they can prepare their own meals, the faster they will be discharged.  Therapists wanted the patient to become independent before discharging them.

While gathering images, I have to consider few ethical matters to avoid conflicts in terms of privacy and plagiarism. Photos I took from the internet have been referenced and can be seen at the end of my power point presentation. I also asked permission of the people who are involved on my ‘original photos’. I also informed them to how their engagement will be helpful on my assignments. All of them agreed and have no issue including their faces on the slideshow.

References:

 

Hammel, K. W. (2004, December). Dimensions of meaning in the occupations of daily life. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(5), 296-303.

Wilcock, A. A. (1998, August). Occupation for Health. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61(8), 340-345.

Wilcock, A. A. (1998, December). Reflections on doing, being, and becoming. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy/ Revue Canadienne D'Ergothérapie, 65(5), 248-257.