h1International Occupational Therapists in Action

Occupational therapists play an important role in the healthcare system. They help people after injuries or strokes to improve their ability to act and move, and to regain their independence. Together with patients, they practise walking, getting dressed, eating, and everyday activities. Occupational therapists work with children as well as with older people—for example after fractures, with osteoarthritis, or with Parkinson’s disease.

Demand for occupational therapy treatments is increasing. This is because the population is ageing, while developmental disorders in children are also on the rise. However, too few young people in Germany are entering this profession. The shortage of skilled workers in occupational therapy is just as dramatic as in nursing and physiotherapy. This leads to long waiting times for patients and an inadequate level of care.

At TalentOrange, we have therefore started recruiting occupational therapists from abroad. In doing so, we draw on our many years of experience in selecting and further training international nursing professionals. For both professions, official recognition is required, as well as an adaptation period with the new employer in Germany.

Luis Daniel Romero Guerrero from Colombia is one of our first occupational therapists. Since May 2024, he has been working at St. Vinzenz Hospital Hanau on the geriatric ward and in the day clinic. The therapy team consists of 22 employees in total, including both physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Two international professionals are currently completing their recognition in St. Vinzenz’s therapy team—Luis Daniel Romero Guerrero is one of them. He loves his work. In Cali, at Universidad del Valle—one of the country’s most renowned universities—he completed a Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy as one of the top graduates of his cohort. At the same time, he began learning languages because he wanted to work abroad one day. With TalentOrange’s programme, he passed the B2 exam in German. Today he lives in Hanau and is happy to have taken the step to Germany. His patients are grateful for the empathy, friendliness, and patience he shows them. Here he is practising shoulder-joint movement with a patient. “He does that so well,” the lady says. Luis Daniel smiles and passes the compliment straight back to her. He works with eight to ten patients per day. Quite a few, we suspect, have already taken him to their hearts after a short time.

More information about recruiting occupational therapists from abroad is available here.