This thought from one of our presenters during last week’s Palliative Care Coffee Club was particularly impactful.
She shared how playing chess with a patient became a meaningful part of his day. It created a space where he could talk openly about what was worrying him, without feeling that someone needed to fix it or have all the answers.
And this is what makes the occupational therapy perspective in palliative care unique: we use meaningful occupation not only as part of rehabilitation, but as a way of creating opportunities for connection, communication, and meaning.
This feels especially relevant as we celebrate the theme of OT Week 2026:
Participation Matters: Transforming lives through meaningful occupation.
Because participation matters throughout life, including during palliative care.
A game of chess, preparing a family recipe together, or learning a new skill can hold far more meaning than we might realise.
Meaningful occupation can open doors to conversations that words alone may not.
PalliativeCare OTWeek OccupationalTherapy MeaningfulOccupation ParticipationMatters OTRole