Lucie Ward is a senior Occupational Therapist at Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust.
I am Lucie Ward. I am a senior Occupational Therapist in the acute setting. I started my career over 20 years ago as a healthcare assistant on an acute older adults’ ward. Right from the beginning, I enjoyed working with older adults, their resilience, their stories, and how different each person was. It didn’t take long to realise that caring for older adults is about so much more than medical conditions. It’s about understanding who someone is, what matters to them, and how to support them in a way that respects that.
It was also where I first saw the impact of occupational therapy. I remember how small, thoughtful interventions could make such a big difference to someone’s independence and wellbeing.
I went on to become an occupational therapy assistant, which gave me the opportunity to build practical skills and spend more time working closely with people and their families. Supporting people through change, often at difficult points in their lives, helped me understand just how important it is to focus on what people can do and what matters most to them.
In 2020, I started a degree as an apprentice Occupational Therapist, something that I had been passionate about becoming for a very long time. Balancing work, life and study wasn’t always easy, but it was worth it.
A couple of years later, after completing the degree, I moved into a senior Occupational Therapist role specialising in older adults. Throughout all of this, one thing has stayed the same: my passion for geriatrics. I’ve always been motivated by helping people live meaningful lives, right up to the end of life.
Geriatrics is such a rewarding area to work in. It’s really varied, and you are not just looking at physical health, but also thinking about someone’s memory, emotions, social situation and home environment. Every person is different, and you are always learning. You can make a real difference, whether that’s helping someone get back home, adapt to new challenges, or making sure they are comfortable and treated with dignity.
It’s also a growing area. As more people live longer, the need for good, thoughtful, client centred care for older adults is only going to increase, which makes it an exciting field to be part of.
The British Geriatrics Society is a great support for anyone working in this area. It offers fantastic training, resources and opportunities to connect with others who are passionate about caring for older people.
I attended the Autumn Meeting in 2025, and it surprised me how relevant and inspiring it was for me as an Occupational Therapist. The elearning is also easily accessible.
It’s also really important in speaking up for older adults and highlighting the value of geriatric care.
For me, working in geriatrics is a privilege. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly meaningful. It’s more than just a job; it’s something I genuinely care about and feel proud to be part of.
