Occupational Therapy in Grand Rapids, MI

Occupational therapy (OT) helps people of all ages in Grand Rapids live as independently and safely as possible at home, school, work, and in the community. Whether challenges are due to injury, illness, developmental delay, mental health concerns, or the effects of aging, occupational therapists in Grand Rapids work to improve everyday “skills for living.”

You’ll find occupational therapists across West Michigan in settings such as Spectrum Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids hospitals, Metro Health and Mercy Health clinics, skilled nursing facilities, schools, home health, and workplace health programs.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

Occupational therapists in Grand Rapids, MI, take a holistic approach to care. Rather than focusing only on a diagnosis, they look at:

  • What you need and want to do each day (your “occupations”)
  • The environments where you live, learn, work, and play
  • The physical, emotional, and social factors that affect your independence

Their goal is to help you:

  • Build or restore daily living skills
  • Stay safe and independent at home and in the community
  • Improve quality of life and overall wellbeing

OTs often work closely with:

  • Families and caregivers
  • Physicians and specialists (for example, at Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
  • Physical therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, and social workers
  • School staff and employers

Stages of an Occupational Therapy Program

1. Evaluation

The OT begins with a detailed assessment that may include:

  • Home life: bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning, managing stairs (important during icy Michigan winters)
  • School or childcare: classroom tasks, play, handwriting, attention, behavior
  • Work: job tasks, computer work, lifting, standing, or repetitive motions
  • Leisure and community: hobbies, driving, community activities, church or social groups
  • Physical and cognitive abilities: strength, coordination, memory, problem-solving, vision

In Grand Rapids, evaluations may take place in:

  • Hospital-based rehab units (e.g., Spectrum Health Rehabilitation)
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Schools
  • Skilled nursing or assisted living facilities
  • Your own home through home health services

2. Consultation and Goal Setting

After the evaluation, the occupational therapist:

  • Reviews the findings with you and your family
  • Consults with other professionals (such as your primary care doctor or specialist)
  • Helps you set realistic, meaningful goals—like returning to work, driving again, managing winter fall risks, or staying in your own home safely
  • Designs a personalized treatment plan

3. Treatment

Treatment may occur:

  • In a hospital or rehabilitation unit
  • In an outpatient therapy clinic
  • At school or preschool
  • At your workplace
  • In your home or assisted living facility

Interventions can include:

  • Hands-on practice of daily tasks
  • Exercise and activities to improve strength, coordination, and endurance
  • Adaptive equipment and technology
  • Home or workplace safety changes
  • Education and training for you and your caregivers

Occupational Therapy for Children in Grand Rapids

Many families in the Grand Rapids area turn to pediatric occupational therapy to support children with:

  • Developmental delays
  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • ADHD and learning difficulties
  • Sensory processing challenges
  • Physical disabilities or recovery after injury or illness

Pediatric OTs often collaborate with:

  • Local school districts and special education teams
  • Pediatricians and specialists at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
  • Early intervention programs and Grand Rapids-area preschools

Key Areas OT Addresses in Children

1. Prerequisite Skills

These are the building blocks for learning and independence:

  • Motor control and coordination
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Body awareness and posture
  • Sensory processing (how a child responds to sound, touch, movement, etc.)

2. Functional Skills

Day-to-day skills that help a child participate at home and school:

  • Eating and feeding skills
  • Dressing, toileting, and hygiene
  • Handwriting and using school tools
  • Participating in play and group activities
  • Playground skills, sports, and recess participation

3. Environmental Modifications

OTs may recommend changes to:

  • Classroom layout and seating
  • Desk and chair height
  • Access in hallways, playgrounds, and school bathrooms
  • Equipment for art, woodshop, physical education, or technology use

In Grand Rapids, pediatric OTs help children fully participate in local schools, community centers, and year-round activities—adjusting strategies for seasonal changes like heavy winter clothing, icy sidewalks, and indoor recess during cold weather.

Occupational Therapy for Adolescents

Adolescence can be a challenging time, especially when combined with:

  • Social and emotional difficulties
  • Learning differences
  • Chronic health conditions
  • Disabilities from accidents or illness
  • Mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression

OT for teens in Grand Rapids focuses on:

  • Building self-esteem and self-awareness
  • Improving social and communication skills
  • Developing independent living skills (time management, self-care, basic cooking, money management)
  • Supporting school participation, homework routines, and transitions between classes
  • Planning for adulthood—college, vocational training, or employment

Occupational therapists may work with teens in:

  • Middle and high schools
  • Outpatient mental health or rehabilitation clinics
  • Youth programs and community health settings
  • Home-based services

Occupational Therapy for Adults in Grand Rapids

Adults in West Michigan may benefit from occupational therapy after:

  • Orthopedic injuries (fractures, joint replacements)
  • Stroke or brain injury
  • Heart disease or surgery
  • Workplace or auto accidents
  • Chronic conditions (arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes-related complications)
  • Mental health conditions

How OT Helps Adults

Occupational therapists support adults by:

  • Re-teaching daily living skills: bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking, managing medications
  • Improving strength, balance, and endurance to prevent falls (especially important in icy Grand Rapids winters)
  • Developing strategies to manage fatigue and pain
  • Recommending adaptive equipment (grab bars, shower chairs, reachers, specialized utensils)
  • Helping with driving and community mobility assessments or referrals
  • Supporting a safe return to work, volunteering, or hobbies

Adults can access OT through:

  • Hospital-based rehab at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health
  • Outpatient rehabilitation centers
  • Home health agencies
  • Community health programs supported by the Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health resources

Occupational Therapy for Older Adults and Aging in Place

As Grand Rapids’ population ages, many older adults want to stay in their own homes as long as possible. Occupational therapists play a key role in “aging in place” safely.

OT for older adults can help with:

  • Fall prevention and home safety assessments
  • Managing chronic conditions like arthritis and Parkinson’s disease
  • Memory strategies and routines for mild cognitive impairment or early dementia
  • Energy conservation for people with heart or lung disease
  • Training caregivers and family members

Common recommendations include:

  • Installing grab bars and railings
  • Improving lighting (especially during long winter evenings)
  • Removing tripping hazards such as loose rugs or clutter
  • Adjusting furniture height and arrangement
  • Using assistive devices like walkers, canes, or reachers

Occupational therapists provide these services in:

  • Private homes and apartments
  • Assisted living and retirement communities
  • Skilled nursing and long-term care facilities across the Grand Rapids area

Occupational Therapy and Mental Health

Mental health is a growing concern in Michigan, and occupational therapists are an important part of the behavioral health team.

OTs help people living with:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
  • PTSD and trauma-related conditions
  • Stress and burnout

How OT Supports Mental Health

Occupational therapists focus on how mental health affects daily life. They may help you:

  • Create healthy routines for sleep, meals, and self-care
  • Develop coping skills and stress-management strategies
  • Improve organization, time management, and planning
  • Build social skills and confidence in community settings
  • Return to work or school with accommodations if needed

In Grand Rapids, mental health-focused OT services may be available through:

  • Hospital-based psychiatric units and clinics
  • Community mental health programs
  • Private outpatient practices
  • Integrated primary care clinics

Occupational Therapy in the Workplace (Industrial and Corporate OT)

Occupational therapists in Grand Rapids also work directly with employers, employees, and occupational health programs to keep the local workforce healthy and productive.

Injury Management and Rehabilitation

OTs may provide:

  • Worksite assessments to review job demands and physical risks
  • Functional capacity evaluations
  • Occupational rehabilitation counseling
  • Early intervention after an injury to speed safe return to work
  • Gradual return-to-work and work-conditioning programs

Injury and Illness Prevention

To prevent workplace injuries and stress-related conditions, occupational therapists can:

  • Perform ergonomic assessments of workstations and tools
  • Review injury and claims history to identify patterns
  • Recommend modifications to tasks, schedules, or equipment
  • Develop alternate or light-duty roles during recovery
  • Design work-conditioning and strengthening programs

Workplace Training and Education

Occupational therapists often lead training in:

  • Safe lifting and manual-handling techniques
  • Back care and joint protection
  • Stress management and resilience
  • Safe work practices for specific industries (manufacturing, healthcare, office work, etc.)
  • Workstation setup and posture for computer-based jobs
  • Brief “pause exercises” and stretch breaks during shifts

These services are commonly coordinated through:

  • Employer-based occupational health departments
  • Occupational health centers and clinics in the Grand Rapids area
  • Workers’ compensation and disability management programs

Where Occupational Therapists Work in Grand Rapids

Occupational therapists serve the Grand Rapids and Kent County community in many settings, including:

  • Hospitals and medical centers

    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health and affiliated clinics

  • Medical rehabilitation units and outpatient rehab centers

  • Schools and educational settings

    • Public and private schools across Grand Rapids
    • Early intervention and preschool programs

  • Community health and public health services

    • Local community health centers
    • Programs supported by the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health resources

  • Home and community-based care

    • Home health agencies
    • Home care services and visiting therapist programs

  • Senior and long-term care settings

    • Retirement communities
    • Assisted living facilities
    • Skilled nursing and long-term care centers

  • Mental health and behavioral health facilities

    • Psychiatric clinics and hospital units
    • Community mental health programs

  • Occupational health and workplace settings

    • Occupational health centers
    • Corporate wellness and injury-prevention programs
    • Industrial and manufacturing worksites

Finding Occupational Therapy Services in Grand Rapids, MI

If you or a family member may benefit from occupational therapy in Grand Rapids:

  • Talk with your primary care provider or specialist about a referral
  • Contact rehabilitation departments at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Ask your child’s school about access to school-based OT services
  • Reach out to local home health agencies for in-home occupational therapy
  • Check resources from the Kent County Health Department for community programs and support

Occupational therapy in Grand Rapids is focused on helping you live your life as fully and independently as possible—at home, at school, at work, and in the community, through all of Michigan’s seasons.