Meet CAPABLE: How Occupational Therapy and Nursing Work Together to Support Independence
What if getting in and out of the bathtub more safely, preparing a favorite meal, or feeling more confident walking through your home could make a meaningful difference in your health and independence?
For participants in the CAPABLE program, these everyday activities are more than routine tasks. They are personal goals that can help make it possible to remain safely and comfortably at home.
CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders) is a person-directed, home-based program that brings together occupational therapy, nursing and home modifications to help older adults address the challenges that can make daily living more difficult.
At the heart of the program is a collaborative partnership between an occupational therapist (OT) and a registered nurse (RN). Working together with each participant, these professionals combine their expertise to identify individual needs, develop practical strategies and help participants build the skills and confidence to reach their goals.
Two Professionals, One Shared Goal: Helping People Live Better at Home
Although occupational therapists and nurses bring different areas of expertise to CAPABLE, their work is closely connected.
The Occupational Therapist: Making Everyday Activities Easier and Safer
Occupational therapists focus on the activities people need and want to do every day. They look at how a person's physical abilities, routines and home environment affect their ability to complete those activities safely and independently.
During home visits, the OT works with participants to identify challenges and explore practical solutions. This might include:
The Registered Nurse: Connecting Health Needs With Daily Living
The registered nurse brings a clinical perspective to the participant's goals, helping identify health-related challenges that may affect everyday activities.
The RN works with participants to better understand their health needs and develop strategies that support their overall well-being. This may include:
By addressing health-related barriers, the nurse helps participants make progress toward the activities and routines that are important to them.
Working Together to Achieve Individual Goals
One of the most important features of CAPABLE is that participants—not the healthcare professionals—decide what success looks like.
The OT and RN work together with each participant to identify meaningful, achievable goals and develop action plans tailored to their needs. Rather than focusing exclusively on medical measurements or diagnoses, the team considers what the individual wants to accomplish in daily life.
For example, imagine a participant whose goal is to take a shower independently.
The occupational therapist might identify that getting into and out of the bathtub is difficult because of limited mobility and a lack of grab bars. The OT can recommend adaptive equipment, demonstrate safer techniques and coordinate necessary home modifications.
At the same time, the nurse might identify pain, muscle weakness or medication-related concerns that make bathing more challenging. The RN can work with the participant on appropriate strategies and help address health concerns with the participant's healthcare providers.
A handy worker can then make approved home modifications, such as installing grab bars, to help remove physical barriers.
Together, the team addresses the person, their health and their home environment—not just one isolated problem.
Building Skills and Confidence That Last
CAPABLE is a time-limited program, typically lasting four to five months. During that time, participants receive personalized visits, practice new skills and learn strategies they can continue using long after the program ends.
The approach emphasizes problem-solving, prevention and building confidence. Participants aren't simply given solutions; they are active partners in identifying challenges, exploring options and deciding which strategies work best for them.
The result is an approach that supports greater independence, improved safety and the ability to continue living in the community.
A Collaborative Approach to Better Living
The partnership between occupational therapy and nursing is what makes CAPABLE especially meaningful. By bringing together expertise in daily function, health management and home safety, the program helps older adults address the real-life challenges that can stand between them and the independence they want to maintain.
Because sometimes, improving quality of life starts with something as simple—and as important—as being able to do the things you love in the place you call home.
Go Back For participants in the CAPABLE program, these everyday activities are more than routine tasks. They are personal goals that can help make it possible to remain safely and comfortably at home.
CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders) is a person-directed, home-based program that brings together occupational therapy, nursing and home modifications to help older adults address the challenges that can make daily living more difficult.
At the heart of the program is a collaborative partnership between an occupational therapist (OT) and a registered nurse (RN). Working together with each participant, these professionals combine their expertise to identify individual needs, develop practical strategies and help participants build the skills and confidence to reach their goals.
Two Professionals, One Shared Goal: Helping People Live Better at Home
Although occupational therapists and nurses bring different areas of expertise to CAPABLE, their work is closely connected.
The Occupational Therapist: Making Everyday Activities Easier and Safer
Occupational therapists focus on the activities people need and want to do every day. They look at how a person's physical abilities, routines and home environment affect their ability to complete those activities safely and independently.
During home visits, the OT works with participants to identify challenges and explore practical solutions. This might include:
- Finding safer, easier ways to get in and out of the bathtub or shower.
- Improving balance, mobility and the ability to move around the home.
- Identifying adaptive equipment that makes everyday activities more manageable.
- Developing strategies to conserve energy when completing household tasks.
- Recommending home modifications, such as grab bars or railings, to improve accessibility and safety.
The Registered Nurse: Connecting Health Needs With Daily Living
The registered nurse brings a clinical perspective to the participant's goals, helping identify health-related challenges that may affect everyday activities.
The RN works with participants to better understand their health needs and develop strategies that support their overall well-being. This may include:
- Reviewing medications and identifying questions or concerns to discuss with healthcare providers.
- Addressing pain, fatigue, strength and other health factors that can affect daily function.
- Teaching exercises and strategies to improve strength and mobility.
- Helping participants better manage chronic health conditions.
- Encouraging effective communication with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
By addressing health-related barriers, the nurse helps participants make progress toward the activities and routines that are important to them.
Working Together to Achieve Individual Goals
One of the most important features of CAPABLE is that participants—not the healthcare professionals—decide what success looks like.
The OT and RN work together with each participant to identify meaningful, achievable goals and develop action plans tailored to their needs. Rather than focusing exclusively on medical measurements or diagnoses, the team considers what the individual wants to accomplish in daily life.
For example, imagine a participant whose goal is to take a shower independently.
The occupational therapist might identify that getting into and out of the bathtub is difficult because of limited mobility and a lack of grab bars. The OT can recommend adaptive equipment, demonstrate safer techniques and coordinate necessary home modifications.
At the same time, the nurse might identify pain, muscle weakness or medication-related concerns that make bathing more challenging. The RN can work with the participant on appropriate strategies and help address health concerns with the participant's healthcare providers.
A handy worker can then make approved home modifications, such as installing grab bars, to help remove physical barriers.
Together, the team addresses the person, their health and their home environment—not just one isolated problem.
Building Skills and Confidence That Last
CAPABLE is a time-limited program, typically lasting four to five months. During that time, participants receive personalized visits, practice new skills and learn strategies they can continue using long after the program ends.
The approach emphasizes problem-solving, prevention and building confidence. Participants aren't simply given solutions; they are active partners in identifying challenges, exploring options and deciding which strategies work best for them.
The result is an approach that supports greater independence, improved safety and the ability to continue living in the community.
A Collaborative Approach to Better Living
The partnership between occupational therapy and nursing is what makes CAPABLE especially meaningful. By bringing together expertise in daily function, health management and home safety, the program helps older adults address the real-life challenges that can stand between them and the independence they want to maintain.
Because sometimes, improving quality of life starts with something as simple—and as important—as being able to do the things you love in the place you call home.