Age in Place or Find a New Space: How the PEO model makes OT the ideal discipline to lead this intervention

Carol Chiang, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM, CHAMP

Learner Outcomes:

1. Participant will be able to identify 4 primary areas to address with clients to help them with their aging in place plan.
2. Participant will be able to use The PEO model to identify where they should be looking for solutions.

Abstract:

Is aging in place a dream or a potential disaster? For many clients, the difference depends on whether they have a proactive plan or a reactive crisis. As Occupational Therapists, we are uniquely wired to bridge the gap between "getting by" and "living well."

In this high-energy session, Carol Chiang—globally recognized expert, author of the Kirkus-starred Age in Place or Find a New Space, and host of the Innovative Aging podcast—reclaims the OT’s role as the "Aging Dream Team" captain. Moving beyond the standard "grab bar and rug" checklist, Carol demonstrates how to leverage the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model to create homes that don't just house people but actively support them.

Drawing on 27 years of clinical experience and her signature "MacGyver-style" mindset, Carol will show you how to blend cutting-edge technology—from robotics to "hidden-in-plain-sight" design—with practical, cost-efficient lifestyle changes. You will learn to identify the four primary pillars of a sustainable aging plan and discover how to use the PEO model to find solutions that preserve dignity, promote meaningful interaction, and save clients thousands in future care costs. Join us to transform your practice from reactive modification to proactive, value-driven design.

Biography

Carol Chiang is a globally recognized aging-in-place expert, occupational therapist, Kirkus starred review author of ‘Age in Place or Find a New Space: How to create beautiful spaces that promote meaningful engagement’, and host of a Medbridge Expert-insights podcast called 'Innovative Aging', where clinicians earn CEUs just by listening.

With 27 years of clinical experience and a reputation for blending practicality with compassion, she champions purposeful, values-driven decisions that are cost-efficient and financially sustainable.

As founder of Evolving Homes®, Carol integrates design, safety, and lifestyle change to create beautiful, meaningful spaces that keep loved ones thriving at home. She is an expert contributor to the Wall Street Journal, CNBC finance and Kiplingers. Her expertise is trusted by MIT AgeLab, Toyota Research Institute, AARP, and UBS.