Sometimes the best occupational therapy interventions don’t feel like “therapy” at all.

One of my favorite ways to create a meaningful, functional treatment session is by taking an everyday activity and intentionally using it to target a patient’s goals. Something as simple as arranging flowers can address fine motor skills, standing balance, activity tolerance, cognition, upper-extremity function, and even social and emotional well-being.

And the best part? At the end of the session, your patient has something beautiful they created themselves.

I use a rolling bag to carry my therapy essentials from one patient to the next. And while it might look like I’m packing for a weekend getaway, everything inside has a purpose. Working with older adults in their natural environments requires flexibility, creativity, and the ability to adapt a treatment session based on what I find when I walk through the door.

From vitals and fall prevention to strengthening, cognition, fine motor skills, and adaptive equipment, here’s a look inside my OT bag.