PEOP Model: Driving - Essay Example

PEOP Model: Driving Student’s Name: Class: Professor/ Lecturer: Date Due: PEOP Model: Driving In the area of occupational therapy, it is difficult and intricate to define and describe the meaning of occupation. This is mainly because occupation forms part of our day to day vocabulary and can, therefore, be defined as a career, duty, and undertaking or to some extent employment. Nevertheless, occupation as been viewed as something that is both habitual and simple. As a result, such definitions have made it hard to understand the real meaning of occupation. Regardless of the various complexities, occupations present individuals with the chance of uniqueness and identities (Wasylenki et al, 1992). The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (2012) describes occupation as a group of activities and duties carried out on a day to day basis, named, given a certain value and definition by the individual and the society. Occupation has, therefore, been described as any activity that an individual or group engages in on a regular basis with the aim of occupying themselves. In order to fully understand the complexities of occupations, numerous theories have been formulated. The objectives of such assumptions are mainly to clarify to the occupational therapists how to successfully observe, diagnose and treat various occupational challenges. The assumptions also offer an outline of the best course of actions and treatments that should be taken in order to get the ideal feedback (Rebeiro, Day, Semeniuk, O’Brien & Wilson, 2001). One of the well-known assumptions of occupational therapy is the PEOP model. The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance model is a theoretical outline that is mainly concerned with the clients and how their day to day occupations are influenced by various challenges. The challenges may include disabilities, persistent illnesses, and to given extent societal and environmental difficulties. As a result of the day to day complexities of occupations, the PEOP framework permits and empowers occupational therapists to seek explanations and knowledge from other areas and disciplines with the aim of offering the best treatment and restoration. The application Person-Environment- Occupation-Performance framework has several advantages compared to other models. Firstly, it has been observed that it supports the occupational therapists in the recognition of the diverse elements that affects an individual’s occupation scope and performance. In the PEOP framework, human occupation is mainly defined through the observation of the personal traits and how they interact within the specified environment. Other elements that are observed include the duties, activities and tasks the individuals are engaged in and the definitions they derive from such actions and roles. Secondly, PEOP model empowers occupational therapists to mix and utilize both the current and traditional methods from their field and other fields in a single plan. This enables the therapists to deliver the best treatment and restoration. Lastly, through the study of various occupations, the PEOP model is able to take into consideration the disabilities that can either lower or improve performance of an individual. The model also brings on board the requirements and objectives of a person as a valuable part of the restoration and treatment plan. The PEOP model comprises four main elements. That is, Performance, Environment, Occupation and Person. Performance involves the actions of an individual. Occupation is mainly concerned with the actions that individuals need and want to do in their day to day living. On the other hand, the environment is concerned with the surrounding and the area in which the occupation is carried out, while the person is a mixture of the neurobehavioral, physiological, cognitive, psychological, and spiritual and cultural elements (Averbach & Katz, 2011). I have, therefore, written this paper with the aim of utilizing the PEOP model in the description of the above stated elements and how the directly and indirectly affect driving as an occupation. Driving is an occupation that demands a lot from the driver or person. This include duties such as dropping and picking friends from college, running errands in town, and ensuring that I meet my contractual obligations in time. I also have to deliver goods to my customers’ premises. This paper will, therefore, look into driving as an occupation with focus on the PEOP framework and its impact on my health and well-being. Motor and Sensory Abilities The motor and sensory abilities form an important part of driving as an occupation. It, therefore, becomes extremely hard and to certain extents impossible to drive without safe and sound visual, audio, sensory and motor abilities. These abilities enables a driver to correctly decide when to turn left or right, observe approaching vehicles and pedestrians, accelerate, overtake and give way amongst many other functions. Motor skills are important in the movement of muscles and limbs such as when steering the vehicle, during acceleration and in the movement of the head in observation of the side mirrors. Motivation The motivation I get from driving comes from the fact that the occupation allows me to meet my needs on time. It also ensures that I drop and pick my friends from the college and other places in time. Apart from that, driving enables me to meet my business commitments on time thereby ensuring that my business customers are satisfied. This translates into more business opportunities. Driving when am always free from other duties enables me to look for new investment opportunities in different parts of the country. It also allows me tom meditate on important issues that require important decisions. Cognitive Aspects Chugg & Craik (2002) observes that cognitive abilities include factors such as memory skills, task organization, attention and language. While driving, I always rely on all these abilities in order to successfully achieve my goal. I rely on my attention in order to ensure that I avoid accidents. I depend on the proper comprehension of language while driving as it aids in reading the road signs and directions. I also rely on my memory in finding directions and remembering what I have to do in order to reach my destination safely. Lastly, I rely on my task organization skills to enable me plan for all my activities and roles. Environmental Factors These are elements that are mainly found on the outside environment and have both direct and indirect effects on my driving occupation (Sellwood et al, 1999). These include things like laws, social factors, financial and economic factors and availability of gas. Laws that have been put in place to check on dangerous driving may at times limit one from meeting his objectives. For instance speed limits and road checks may delay one from being at a specified place on time. Other factors such as the cost of gas and its availability at a given point and time may have a direct impact on driving. This implies that when the cost of fuel rises, it limits the total number of miles I cover while driving, in that, the increase in fuel price will restrict the amount I can purchase. On the other side if fuel is not readily available then I will not be able to drive. Driving, Health and Well-being Performance in a certain occupation is directly connected to the individual’s health and general well-being. Proper utilization of the various physical, intellectual and social skills occur when an individual or group is involved in any consequential, rewarding and motivating occupation. This will not only enhance their experience but will also increase their sense of self-worth and confidence. Driving is an occupation that enables me to meet the needs of my friends and business. Being at the right place on time and doing the right thing at the right time reduces stress level thereby ensuring that we are happy and healthy. Stress is associated with various deadly illnesses that include strokes and heart diseases. Driving also ensures that I am able to do business and help friends with various needs. Due to the risks involved, I always ensure that I drive cautiously to avoid accidents. Well being on the other hand is usually linked to concepts such as confidence, sense of self-esteem and belonging, and individual development. I always feel good at the end of the day when I have successfully met my daily objectives. This greatly improves my confidence levels and reliance on my skills and has often led to appreciation by my friends and customers. As a result I have always felt satisfied and at peace with myself. In a nut shell, I have described the importance of the PEOP framework and explained how its various elements can be successfully employed and the consequent gains on health and well-being. I have also talked about the elements of PEOP framework and how they affect my occupation as a driver. References Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. (2012). 2011 Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 6–76. Averbach, S., & Katz, N. (2011). Cognitive rehabilitation: A retraining model for clients with neurological disabilities. In N. Katz (Ed.), Cognition, occupation, and participation across the life span: Neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, and models of intervention in occupational therapy (3rd ed., pp. 274–300). Chugg, A., & Craik, C. (2002). Some factors influencing occupational engagement for people with schizophrenia living in the community. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 65-75. Rebeiro, K. L., Day, D. G., Semeniuk, B., O’Brien, M. C., & Wilson, B. (2001). Northern Initiative for Social Action: An occupation-based mental health program. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 492-499. Sellwood, W., Thomas, C. S., Tarrier, N., Jones, S., Clewes, J., & James, A. (1999). A randomised controlled trial of home-based rehabilitation versus outpatient-based rehabilitation for patients suffering from acute schizophrenia. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 34, 249-254. Wasylenki, D., James, S., Clark, C., Lewis, J., Goering, P., & Gillies, L. (1992). Clinical issues in social network therapy for patients with schizophrenia. Community Mental Health Journal, 28, 423-438. Read More