The Home Accessibility Therapist Podcast

Sue Doyle PhD OTR/L
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The Home Accessibility Therapist Podcast delivers tips, training, and interviews for therapists who are changing lives at home. Each episode turns real-world home modification challenges—like falls, hoarding, and disaster preparedness—into clear, practical strategies you can use on your next visit. You’ll hear Therapist Thursday interviews, research-based blog-to-audio episodes, and “Office Hours” Q&A focused on evaluations, documentation, and funding. The podcast’s goal is to build your confidence and skills as a home accessibility therapist so your recommendations are safer, more effective, and more likely to be implemented.

  1. 6d ago

    S1E12: Blog-to-Audio | When the Power Goes Out: Disaster Planning for Clients With Electricity-Dependent Equipment

    SummaryThis episode is an audio version of our blog, “When the Power Goes Out: Disaster Planning for Clients With Electricity-Dependent Equipment.” Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L walks through how power outages turn from inconvenience to crisis for clients who rely on powered medical equipment, so you can systematically build outage planning into your OT assessments and protect function, safety, and life. In this episode, we cover: Why clients who depend on powered equipment (ventilators, oxygen concentrators, power wheelchairs, lifts, hospital beds, smart home systems) are among the most vulnerable in disasters, and why standard emergency checklists are not enough. Five practical OT actions you can start using immediately: creating a detailed equipment inventory, connecting clients to utility life-support registries, developing written power-failure protocols, ensuring and practicing manual mobility options, and rehearsing evacuation or backup routines before a crisis.How to think through the “cascade effect” of outages—elevators, doors, smart home controls, medication dispensers, and communication devices failing in sequence—and how OTs can respond both at the individual home level and by advocating for system-wide preparedness in agencies, shelters, and discharge planning. Read the full blog and see visuals: Read the article: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/2026/05/29/when-the-power-goes-out-ots-critical-role-in-emergency-planning-for-clients-with-medical-equipment/View any photos, diagrams, or checklists mentioned in this episode on the blog.Related trainings and courses: Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHATDisaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: A role for OT  https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/DisastercourseAll Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/coursesStay connected: Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/NewsletterJoin  our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafetyFollow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178

    15 min

  2. May 26

    S1E11: Blog-to-Audio | Why a Checklist Is Not Enough: Elevating Your OT Home Mod Assessments

    Why a Checklist Is Not Enough: Elevating Your OT Home Mod Assessments This episode is an audio version of our blog, “Why a Checklist Is Not Enough: Elevating Your OT Home Mod Assessments.” Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L walks through the limitations of checklist-based home safety visits and shows you how to bring deeper observation, clinical reasoning, and occupation-focused analysis into your assessments so you can make truly effective, defensible recommendations for your clients. In this episode, we cover:Why relying on home safety checklists alone can leave critical risks unaddressed, including how two clients with identical “checked boxes” can have completely different fall and safety profiles based on insight, cognition, habits, and support. What checklists and standardized tools can and cannot do, and how to move beyond environment-centric box checking to person- and occupation-centered assessment that looks at real movement patterns, transfer strategies, fatigue, and how equipment is actually used. Practical ways to deepen your home mod practice—observing meaningful tasks, sharpening your documentation language, and clarifying OT’s unique value—so you can shift from “form-completer” to confident, evidence-based home modification specialist. Read the full blog and see visuals: Read the article: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/2026/05/26/why-a-checklist-assessment-is-not-enough-the-real-role-of-ot-in-home-modifications/View any photos, diagrams, or checklists mentioned in this episode on the blog.Related trainings and courses: Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHATAll Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/coursesStay connected: Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/NewsletterJoin  our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafetyFollow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178

    21 min

  3. May 19

    S1E10: Therapist Thursday | Amy on Blending Architecture, OT, and Home Modifications Across the Lifespan

    Summary In this Therapist Thursday episode, Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L talks with Amy, an occupational therapist and founder of Live Equipped, about building a flexible OT practice that combines in‑home therapy, home modifications, and a pediatric clinic while serving both urban and rural communities around Birmingham, Alabama. Amy shares how she blended her early interest in architecture with her OT training, leveraged grants and nonprofit partnerships, and navigated Medicare and insurance so more clients can safely age in place and live more fully at home. What you’ll learn in this episode:How Amy’s path from “almost‑architect” to OT, then home health therapist, led her to create Live Equipt, provide in‑home OT and home accessibility assessments, and eventually open a pediatric clinic while working with large home‑modification programs across 20 counties. Practical strategies she uses in evaluations, from walking through clients’ entire daily routines (beyond “just a few grab bars”) to generating long lists of small, low‑cost changes that dramatically improve safety, independence, and ease of daily activities in real‑world homes. Business and career insights on carefully transitioning from employment to entrepreneurship (keeping PRN work as a safety net), learning Medicare/insurance so you can serve beneficiaries instead of excluding them, using grants and programs like Older Adults Home Modifications and PANDA, and designing a schedule that supports both client care and family life. Guest details and links: Amy MarchantWebsite: https://www.livequipt.com/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amy-marchant-otr-l-caps-echm-champ-243b02207Resources mentioned: Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHATAll Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/coursesConnect with The Home Accessibility Therapist: Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/NewsletterJoin  our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafetyFollow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178

    26 min

  4. May 12

    S1E9: Office Hours | Getting Started in Home Mods Part 2

    SummaryIn this office hours episode, Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L, dives into the second key step in getting started with home modifications: clarifying what expertise you truly need and how to intentionally build it over time. She highlights the unique value OTs bring, the advanced skills that go beyond basic safety checks, and practical ways to grow your confidence and competence in this specialty. Questions answered in this episode:What skills do therapists already have that transfer directly into home modifications, and what counts as “advanced” home mod expertise? How is OT-led home assessment different from contractor-led or technician-led recommendations, and why does clinical reasoning make such a difference in outcomes? What additional knowledge should you develop—like construction basics, standardized assessments, documentation, and staying current with new products—to confidently grow a home mods practice? Mentioned resources and links: Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHATCourses & Memberships:  https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/coursesAny handouts, checklists, or blog posts referenced: Submit a question for a future episode: Use the question form here: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/SubmitQuestionOr email your question to: sue@thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.comConnect with The Home Accessibility Therapist: Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/NewsletterJoin  our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafetyFollow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178

    15 min

  5. May 5

    S1E8: Blog-to-Audio | From Smart Wheelchairs to Smart Homes: Updating Your Home Assessments for New Mobility Tech

    From Smart Wheelchairs to Smart Homes: Updating Your Home Assessments for New Mobility Tech This episode is an audio version of our blog, “From Smart Wheelchairs to Smart Homes: Updating Your Home Assessments for New Mobility Technology.” Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L walks through how rapidly evolving mobility and smart home technologies are reshaping real-world function so you can update your home assessment process to look beyond “does it fit?” and truly evaluate compatibility, safety, and daily routines. In this episode, we cover: What’s changing in mobility technology—from smart wheelchairs with obstacle detection and app-based controls to more complex charging needs and environmental control systems—and why traditional tape-measure assessments are no longer enough.How to apply a compatibility lens in your home visits, including what to observe with smart wheelchairs (sensor behavior, mirrors and glass, lighting, tight turns), how to document technology–environment mismatches, and the specific questions to add to your assessments.Practical ways to assess batteries, charging routines, and smart home systems (Wi‑Fi, apps, voice assistants, backup options, client cognitive/tech capacity), so you can recommend sustainable layouts, safer charging setups, and realistic automation that truly supports independence and reduces fall and caregiver burden.Read the full blog and see visuals: Read the article: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/2026/02/17/integrating-mobility-technology-trends-into-home-assessments/ View any photos, diagrams, or checklists mentioned in this episode on the blog. FREE Assessment Checklist Mobility Technology Home Assessment ChecklistRelated trainings and courses: Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHATAll Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/coursesStay connected: Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/NewsletterJoin  our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafetyFollow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178

    26 min

  6. Apr 28

    S1E7: Blog-to-Audio | Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Through Home Modifications for OTs

    Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Through Home Modifications for OTs This episode is an audio version of our blog, “Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Through Home Modifications for OTs.” Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L walks through the latest evidence on fall prevention, showing you how to combine structured assessments with targeted, room-by-room home modifications so you can meaningfully reduce fall risk and clearly demonstrate the impact of your interventions. In this episode, we cover: Why falls among community-dwelling older adults are so life-altering, how often they occur, and what current research says about the potential of home modifications—within a multifactorial plan—to reduce falls and healthcare costs. The key evidence-based components of fall prevention for OTs, including validated screening tools, exercise and medication considerations, environmental safety modifications, and a minimum two-visit home modification model that aligns with AOTA’s Vision 2025.Practical, evidence-informed strategies for room-by-room home modification—especially in bathrooms, entrances, stairs, and living areas—focused on observing real occupational performance and tailoring grab bars, layout, lighting, flooring, and equipment to each client’s specific risks and routines. Read the full blog and see visuals: Read the article: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/2025/10/22/evidence-based-fall-prevention-through-home-modifications-what-occupational-therapists-need-to-know/View any photos, diagrams, or checklists mentioned in this episode on the blog.Related trainings and courses: Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHATAll Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/coursesStay connected: Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/NewsletterJoin  our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafetyFollow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178

    25 min

  7. Apr 21

    S1E6: Therapist Thursday | Cathron Sterling on Turning Personal Loss into Purposeful Home Modifications

    In this Therapist Thursday episode, Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L talks with Cathron Sterling, an occupational therapist and home safety specialist from San Antonio, about building a mission-driven home modifications and DME practice after decades in traditional clinical roles. Cathron shares how her experiences in pediatric home health, care coordination, and caring for her mother after multiple strokes shaped a business focused on access, safety, and dignity at home. What you’ll learn in this episode: How Cathron’s 27-year OT journey—from acute care and inpatient rehab to pediatric and adult home health, liaison work, and caring for her mother after strokes—led her to start a home safety, accessibility, and wheelchair/DME-focused company in 2020 and go full-time by 2023.Practical ways she blends an OT lens, public administration training, and lived family experience to assess home safety, navigate limited resources, coordinate services, and creatively modify spaces (like converting a garage into an accessible apartment).Business and career insights on channeling grief into meaningful work, using community connections and care-coordination networks to build a referral base, and creating a home mods/private practice path that offers more autonomy and a sustainable alternative to burnout in traditional healthcare roles.Guest details and links: Cathron SterlingWebsite: WWW.EDCHomeSolutions.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cathron-sterling-6620191a4Resources mentioned: Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHATAll Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/coursesConnect with The Home Accessibility Therapist: Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/NewsletterJoin  our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafetyFollow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178

    33 min

  8. Apr 14

    S1E5 Office Hours | Getting Started in Home Mods Part 1

    Summary In this office hours episode, Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L, walks you through the first key step in developing a home modifications practice: understanding and identifying the need in your own community. She shares fall statistics, real-life stories, and reflection prompts to help you spot where clients’ homes are putting them at risk and how that signals a growing opportunity for your skills. Questions answered in this episode:  How big is the problem of falls at home for older adults, and what do the latest statistics really tell us What housing and neighborhood factors (like home age, layout, and state-level fall data) signal a strong need for home modifications services? How can you use your current caseload and everyday observations to spot poor housing fit and define the specific home modification needs in your community? Mentioned resources and links: Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHATCourses & Memberships:  https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/coursesAny handouts, checklists, or blog posts referenced: Submit a question for a future episode: Use the question form here: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/SubmitQuestionOr email your question to: sue@thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.comConnect with The Home Accessibility Therapist: Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/NewsletterJoin  our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafetyFollow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178

    13 min
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The Home Accessibility Therapist Podcast delivers tips, training, and interviews for therapists who are changing lives at home. Each episode turns real-world home modification challenges—like falls, hoarding, and disaster preparedness—into clear, practical strategies you can use on your next visit. You’ll hear Therapist Thursday interviews, research-based blog-to-audio episodes, and “Office Hours” Q&A focused on evaluations, documentation, and funding. The podcast’s goal is to build your confidence and skills as a home accessibility therapist so your recommendations are safer, more effective, and more likely to be implemented.

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