Practice contexts of occupational therapists fit well within the changes in care and welfare in The Netherlands

Introduction: The aging population and growing prevalence of chronic conditions increase the healthcare costs of many western countries. Because of perpetually rising care expenses, Dutch government is moving toward the... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction:
The aging population and growing prevalence of chronic conditions increase the healthcare costs of many western countries. Because of perpetually rising care expenses, Dutch government is moving toward the transition from a welfare state to a participation society. Expensive clinical care needed to be decreased, and Dutch policy moved towards more informal, primary, and community care.
Description of the policy
Four Practice Contexts for Occupational Therapists (PCOT) has been defined within institutional, primary and community care (van Hartingsveldt, Hengelaar, & Logister-Proost, 2015). This is based on occupation that promotes health and well-being for people on the individual and societal level (Wilcock & Hocking, 2015), the individual and social perspective of occupational therapy in enabling participation (Chapparro & Ranka, 2005) and the broadened view on the client as a person within his system, organisation or population (Polatajko et al., 2013). The PCOT enhances the application to policy of OT practice and education.
Application of the policy to practice/education:
With the PCOT, the current and future position of OT’s in practice can be described. The PCOT guides curriculum development regarding the amount of attention for the different practice contexts. This supports the integration of the individual and the social perspective of OT in education.
Evaluation:
The PCOT makes clear which practice contexts for OT’s are decreasing or increasing in relation to the transition to a participation society. The PCOT gives new challenges for creating tomorrow’s education and practice for OT’s in order to enable every citizen to participate in society.