Professional Affiliations

The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation program teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential to competing in the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: home modifications for the aging-in-place.

The baby boom generation has many choices as this large population of potential clients for remodelers, builders, contractors and occupational therapists considers where to live — but overwhelmingly, seniors would prefer to stay in their own homes. The CAPS designation offers your potential clients what they need most: reassurance that you’ll help them make the choices that will help them stay in their homes safely and securely.

In addition, the CAPS designation helps you make your clients’ homes more “visitable.” Even if the home owners don’t think they need additional task lighting, grab bars, and other home modifications for their own use, their family members and visitors might. CAPS helps you help your clients make the right choices, and it gives you more security in remodeling market niche that’s continuing to grow in popularity.

Occupational therapists (OTs) and assistants (OTAs) help people participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).  Some OT interventions include helping children with disabilities fully participate in school and social situations, helping injured people regain skills, and providing support and adaptations for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services may include comprehensive evaluations of the client’s home and other environments (e.g., workplace, school), recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregivers. Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team.

TNOTA strives to advance Occupational Therapy in Tennessee through education, advocacy, communication, and legislative involvement to support the provision of high quality occupational therapy services and promote the benefits of our profession to consumers, stakeholders, and legislators in Tennessee.To fulfill this mission, TNOTA seeks to:

• Provide professional support to our members and advance the profession through communication, education, and advocacy
• Understand and represent member interests and concerns
• Improve the quality of occupational therapy services in TN
• Enhance consumer health and wellbeing through promotion of best practices in occupational therapy in Tennessee
• Represent occupational therapy to the public and promote the benefits of our profession to consumers, stakeholders, and legislators in Tennessee

The CDP certification represents that the front line staff and health care professional has received comprehensive knowledge in the area of dementia care,  achievement in completing the Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care course/seminar, met the NCCDP requirements for CDP certification, applied for the CDP certification and received the CDP certification. The CDP commits to ongoing professional development through NCCDP Staff Education Week or other educational opportunities and re-certification every two years. A CDP certification reflects a deep personal commitment on the part of the front line staff, health care professional, and the organization’s sense of accountability by abiding by NCCDP the Ethic’s statement, inspiring confidence and dedication in an individual's professional knowledge through quality of life and quality of care provided by the CDP to the dementia patient.

  The University of Southern California  Leonard Davis School of Gerontology is dedicated to develop and support skilled, educated and networked professionals who can respond to the increasing demand for home modification services. Thus, we offer the opportunity to learn more about home modification from the comfort of your computer through our Executive Certificate in Home Modification Program

Occupational therapists are ideally suited to teach caregivers how to set up or modify daily routines, use effective strategies, and handle difficult behaviors.6

Skills2Care® is a proven home program that improves well-being and skills of family caregivers, slows decline in daily functioning of persons with dementia, and reduces challenging behaviors that can trigger nursing home placement. Occupational therapists trained and certified in Skills2Care® provide hands-on-education to families to enhance their abilities to manage day-to-day challenges and take care of themselves. Care strategies are developed and implemented that are tailored to the unique needs and environments of families.2,4 

Occupational therapists certified in Skills2Care® teach caregivers how to manage the day-to-day challenges of dementia. Program content includes:

• Understanding dementia
• Reducing challenging behaviors
• Promoting function
• Communicating effectively
• Making the home safer
• Ways to care for themselves while providing the best care possible

The Home Modification Occupational Therapy Alliance (HMOTA) is a group of Occupational Therapists with a specified interest in serving clients in need of home modification and other related OT services.  The therapists meet regularly and discuss best practices and current trends in home modification