Complex Home Safety: How Can We Assess, Fund, and
Still Stay Client-Centered?

Innovative Aging: Complex Home Safety: How Can We Assess, Fund, and Still Stay Client-Centered? (Episode 15)

Audio Runtime: 58 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 21 Minutes

In this episode of Innovative Aging, host Carol Chiang, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM, CHAMP, sits down with Dr. Susan “Sue” Doyle, PhD, MSc (postprofessional), B.Occ.Thy., OTR/L, an occupational therapist, researcher, and home-accessibility expert with over 40 years of experience. Together, they explore how clinicians can bridge the gap between evidence-based fall prevention research and practical daily workflows, especially when facing high productivity demands and complex environments like hoarding behaviors. Dr. Doyle highlights actionable ways to move past static home safety checklists, emphasizing that true client-centered outcomes stem from observing person-environment-occupation fit rather than simply listing room hazards. Tune in as we demystify funding pathways—from Medicare Part B and Medicaid waivers to emerging programs—and learn how to structure sustainable, high-impact environmental assessments.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze the evidence around conducting specialized home environmental assessments to reduce fall risk and improve functional performance and safety
• Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to actionably address individual person-environment fit, client-centered prioritization, and sustainable reimbursement pathways for home modifications
• Solve patient case scenarios involving complex environmental challenges, such as home clutter or hoarding behaviors, using structured clinical decision-making frameworks

Guest Bio: Dr. Susan “Sue” Doyle is an occupational therapist, educator, researcher, and home-accessibility specialist with more than 40 years of clinical, academic, and leadership experience. As CEO and an AOTA Approved Provider at The Home Accessibility Therapist LLC, she educates occupational and physical therapy practitioners on home safety assessment, home modifications, complex rehabilitation seating, and Medicare Part B outpatient practice. Dr. Doyle has held faculty appointments at the University of Puget Sound, the University of Washington, and Ithaca College, and she brings extensive direct-practice experience in home-based therapy, community-based services, inpatient rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. Her scholarship includes peer-reviewed research and book chapters on evidence-based practice, stroke rehabilitation, primary care, and home modifications, and she currently serves as a committee member and coeditor for AOTA’s Home and Community Health Special Interest Section.

Disclosure: Our guest today is affiliated with a company that develops technology in the area we’re discussing. While we won’t be endorsing any specific product, listeners should be aware of this connection as part of our commitment to transparency.

This is an audio-only course. Additional materials are available for download within the course. To receive continuing education credit, complete the course and the accompanying quiz.