[Ergotherapy--more than stimulation of activities]

There are many ways of forming a caring relationship. One way is to give people the opportunity to be active, whether they have a long or a short time left to live, and irrespective of intelligence, skills, values or cultural background. The occupational therapist focuses on and emphasizes the patients' need to master their environment and stresses a person's sense of self, bringing out what she or he feels is essential to be a competent person. Quality of life depends on an internal feeling of personal worth. By being able to contribute even on a small scale, for example by making a little gift to a friend, a person may gain both self-respect and the admiration of others.