Occupational therapy focuses on helping patients regain activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and eating through hands-on assistance and exercises until they can perform tasks independently, as opposed to just treating the injury. It works with patients who have conditions affecting movement and cognition like strokes, fractures, depression, and dementia. While physical and occupational therapy may use similar activities, their focuses are different, with occupational therapy aiming to improve independent living skills rather than just physical abilities.