Empowering Recovery, Step by Step

Meet Liyana, our Senior Occupational Therapist at SATA CommHealth’s Rehabilitation Clinic in Bedok Uttamram Medical Centre. Her work focuses on empowering individuals to regain their ability to perform everyday tasks, transforming lives one step at a time.

Liyana starts her day by reviewing her schedule, which is a brief but critical moment of preparation that helps her mentally map out the tasks ahead. This quiet start sets the tone for her dynamic and purpose-driven day.

Her first session of the day is with Mr Syafarin, who is working to regain strength and mobility through upper limb exercises. “Every patient’s journey is unique,” Liyana remarks. “That makes this work so fulfilling—I learn something new every day.”

During the session, Liyana demonstrates a series of carefully tailored exercises, observing Mr Syafarin’s movements. She offers feedback and adjusts the regimen to suit his evolving needs, ensuring he maximises his potential. After the session, she updates his medical records, documenting his progress and planning the next steps in his rehabilitation journey.

When not working directly with patients, Liyana turns her attention to the administrative side of her role. From managing the team’s training schedules to preparing presentation materials for an upcoming department meeting, she balances these responsibilities with the same dedication she brings to patient care. These behind-the-scenes efforts are vital in maintaining the clinic’s efficiency and enhancing service quality. Professionals like Liyana are at the heart of SATA CommHealth’s mission to deliver holistic care. Their expertise and compassion help patients achieve greater independence and inspire hope and resilience in the community.

Through her dedication and skill, Liyana continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those she serves.

Mini Q&A session with Liyana from the Rehabilitation Team

What inspired you to choose a career in occupational therapy?

I have always been a more hands-on person and enjoy being on my feet more than on the computer. A career in occupational therapy does just that, as it focuses on occupations—helping people get back on their feet to live their daily lives.

Can you share with us what are the range of conditions you treat as an occupational therapist?

As an occupational therapist in SATA CommHealth, I see patients with a variety of geriatric conditions such as stroke, hip fracture, dementia, cancer, deconditioning due to recurrent falls, Parkinson's, shoulder or upper limb injuries, as well as patients who require assistive devices like a wheelchair, shower chair and motorised scooter. I do therapeutic activities to help them improve their body functions and teach them techniques to regain their independence in their daily activities.

Can you share a memorable success story of a patient’s recovery journey?

One of my memorable moments as an occupational therapist was with two patients from Fernvale Community Hub under the Aspire Programme. They were an elderly husband and wife couple who stayed by themselves and had little support except from the wife's brother. In one of the home-based sessions, I discovered that the husband has been washing all their laundry by hand despite having a new washing machine the wife's brother bought. I realised that due to his cognitive impairment, he did not know how to use the washing machine or learn to use it by himself. As such, I spent a few sessions teaching him how to use the washing machine and labelling the buttons to make it easier for him, and thankfully, he managed to do his laundry with the machine confidently from then on. It tested my creativity as an OT on how to teach a cognitively impaired person to function in his daily life, but it was rewarding in the end.

How do you foster a positive and supportive environment to help patients stay motivated throughout their rehabilitation journey, especially when faced with setbacks?

I help them realise their potential through small successes that they achieve every session and set goals in collaboration with them to make the rehab journey more meaningful. Most patients tend to be too hard on themselves and set big goals that may be unrealistic or appear unachievable. My role is to show them they can achieve smaller goals that eventually arrive at what they envision and modify the task and environment to support their end goal.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering seeking occupational therapy treatment for the first time?

Occupational therapy is not just about physical recovery. It helps people regain the ability to participate in everyday activities that are meaningful to them, from getting dressed to cooking, working, socialising, and pursuing hobbies. An occupational therapist will work closely with you to find effective ways to help you regain those abilities and live life to the fullest – so reach out to us, and we will see how we can best help you.

This article is featured in the January issue (2025) of In The Know.

Want to read more? You can read the full January issue of In The Know here.