London's older adults are well served by a city that takes rehabilitation seriously. University Hospital and Victoria Hospital, both part of London Health Sciences Centre, anchor a strong network of allied health professionals, and that means occupational therapists here tend to have solid clinical training and real experience with complex senior cases. Still, the gap between a generalist OT and one who specializes in aging can be significant, so it's worth being deliberate about who you choose.
Our first recommendation is to prioritize home-visit availability over clinic convenience, especially if your parent is recovering from a fall, a stroke, or a hospital discharge. An OT who assesses your loved one inside their actual home, whether that's a house in Byron, an apartment near Old North, or a retirement suite in the east end, will catch hazards and functional barriers that a clinic visit simply misses. The trade-off is that home-visit therapists often have longer wait times, so if your situation is urgent, a clinic-based OT who can see your parent quickly may be the right first step while you wait for a home assessment.
When you're comparing therapists, check that they are registered with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. Beyond credentials, ask directly about their caseload with older adults. Experience with cognitive changes, post-surgical recovery, and assistive device recommendations matters far more than a general OT background. If your parent also needs physiotherapy, podiatry and foot care, or counselling, look for a practice or care team that coordinates across those services; in London, multidisciplinary clinics are increasingly common and can save a lot of back-and-forth.
Finally, think about geography and transportation. London's spread-out layout means a clinic that's easy to reach from one part of the city can feel remote from another. If your parent doesn't drive and relies on others for rides, a therapist closer to their neighbourhood is almost always the better choice, even if another provider has a slightly stronger reputation. The best OT is the one your parent can actually get to, or who can get to them.
