Paulene Niessen

Paulene Niessen, MS, OTR

Paulene Niessen is a dedicated Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of experience helping individuals regain independence and improve their quality of life. She earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Salus University in 2015.

Paulene spent six years working in an acute rehabilitation hospital, where she specialized in treating patients with stroke and brain injuries. In addition to her inpatient experience, she has also worked in home care, where she enjoys evaluating living environments and making thoughtful home modification recommendations to support safety and independence.

Her passion for therapy began in high school when she had the opportunity to observe clinicians at an outpatient clinic where her mother worked. Watching therapists work with a wide range of patients sparked her interest in healthcare and ultimately led her to pursue a career in occupational therapy.

Paulene is especially passionate about helping patients improve their ability to perform activities of daily living, with the goal of safely returning home and living as independently as possible. She values building meaningful connections with her patients and takes pride in being part of their recovery journey.

She appreciates the warm, welcoming, and supportive environment at Wiley, noting that both the residents and staff make it a truly special place to work.

Outside of work, Paulene enjoys spending time with her husband and their three cats. She also loves hiking and traveling. She and her husband have visited seven national parks so far and hope to explore them all in the future.