Occupational Therapy is a skilled treatment dedicated to building maximum independence, increased participation and improving the quality of life in all patients who struggle with their day-to-day activities including self-care, work and leisure activities. The focus of occupational therapy is about engagement in purposeful activity and doing things that make life worth living.
Occupational therapy is offered in a variety of settings at North Shore Health:
Hospital Occupational Therapy
In the event of an injury or a medical emergency that impacts independence, North Shore Hospital provides patients with Occupational Therapy during their stay in order to restore function, prevent further decline, and coordinate care including transition and discharge planning. Occupational therapy focuses on addressing deficits and barriers that limit the patient’s ability to perform activities that they need or want to do related to the independence in self-care, home management, work related tasks and participating in leisure and community pursuits.
Outpatient Adult Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy at North Shore Health provides a function-based and client centered approach. Assistance with improving independence, participation, and improved quality of life that were impacted by a variety of conditions, including:
- Parkinson's
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
- Dementia
- Chronic or degenerative diseases
- Physical disabilities
- Mental health disorders
*Home safety evaluations are available when appropriate.
Occupational Therapy at North Shore Living
Occupational Therapy works in collaboration with the North Shore Living care team in order to develop creative interventions that improve quality of life and maintain ability while aging. This may include providing adaptive equipment to assist with participation in functional activities or offer expertise in modifying the environment to maximize independence, energy conservation or task simplification.
Outpatient Pediatric Occupational Therapy

It’s often been said that playtime is a child’s most serious occupation. Pediatric Occupational therapy at North Shore Health works with children and their family to promote participation in functional activities that are meaningful to them including: self-care (bathing, dressing, feeding, organizational skills), motor skills (handwriting, playing ball, coordination, sensory processing), and play skills (social skills, developmental play, problem solving, emotional regulation).
When to consider occupational therapy for your child?
- Avoids certain activities (slides, swings)
- Seeks constant movement
- Difficulty with attention
- Impulsive and/or disruptive behavior
- Does not like to participate in messy activities (finger painting)
- Seek or avoids being touched by others
- Difficulty manipulating different textures
- Difficulty holding and using a pencil correctly
- Child has not yet determined handedness
- Illegible handwriting
- Inability to crawl (for young children)
- Inability to skip, do jumping jacks, and ride a bike (for older children)
- Self-control and emotional regulation concerns
- Delayed gross and/or fine motor skills
- Delayed or limited repertoire of play skills
- Poor oral-motor control for feeding (sucking, chewing, swallowing)
- Delayed or limited self-care skills (buttoning clothes or tying shoes, self-feeding, preparing a simple snack, managing money)
- Limited social skills or behavioral-adaptive skills (Coping skills, establishing friendships, cooperative play with peers)
- Processing of the sensory environment is interfering with their daily routines and environment
Telehealth Available
Due to COVID-19, Occupational Therapy is available via Telehealth for both children and adults. Click here for more information on our Telehealth services.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Anna Sorensen, Occupational Therapist, at 218-387-3040, ext 251. Email: Anna.Sorensen@northshorehealthgm.org