Date of Award

4-2026

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Kyle Ailes, OTRL

Second Advisor

Holly Grieves, OTD, OTRL

Abstract

This doctoral capstone experience focused on program development through the creation and implementation of a structured life skills program and the initial planning of a simulated life skills training space within an inpatient psychiatric setting at Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. Individuals with serious mental illness often experience barriers to community reintegration following hospitalization and benefit from opportunities to practice daily living skills prior to discharge (Gibson et al., 2011). In response to this need, a 12-week life skills curriculum was developed and piloted to address topics including daily routines, medication management, emotional regulation, grocery shopping, cooking, employment readiness, technology use, and identification of community resources. Supporting materials were compiled into a physical binder and shared digital folder to support continued use of the program by staff and students. Preliminary planning for a simulated life skills training space was also completed to support hands-on practice of instrumental activities of daily living in a structured environment. Program effectiveness was evaluated using de-identified pre-and post-surveys, which indicated increased participant confidence across several life skills areas. Overall, this project highlights the role of occupational therapy in developing structured, occupation-based programs to support independence and preparation for transitioning from inpatient psychiatric care across a range of discharge setting

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