Home safety: Environmental design and risk-reduction strategies for people living with dementia (January 29, 2027)

Online Workshop

January 29, 2027 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Presented by: Rachel Wiley, OTR/L

More than 500,000 Canadians currently live with dementia, a figure projected to approach one million by 2030 (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2024). As dementia progresses, changes in cognition, perception, sensory processing, mobility, and judgment can alter how a person interacts with their environment and increase the potential for safety concerns at home. Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to assess the interaction between the person, environment, and occupations and to recommend individualized strategies that promote safety without unnecessarily restricting independence.

This workshop will equip you with evidence-based knowledge and practical strategies for assessing and modifying environments for people living with dementia. In the first half of the workshop, you will explore why the physical environment matters for people living with dementia, core principles of dementia-friendly design, and a practical approach to environmental assessment. You will then be guided through practical environmental adaptations to promote safety, prevent falls, facilitate health management, and promote occupational participation by considering room-by-room safety hazards, including kitchen and fire safety and hazards from tools, weapons, pools, and plants.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

1. Identify how the physical environment shapes occupational participation and behaviour for people living with dementia.
2. Apply core principles of dementia-friendly environmental design to real home settings.
3. Analyze fall risk factors related to gait aids, footwear, transfers, and mobility, and select targeted, evidence-informed risk reduction strategies.
4. Recognize common health management risks at home including medication, alcohol, driving, and smoking safety, and identify strategies to reduce harm.
5. Recommend environmental changes to facilitate participation, comfort, and engagement.

Registration fees

Registration deadline: January 29, 2027 at 11:59 a.m. (Eastern Time)

Please note that workshop registrations are for one individual person and may not be shared. CAOT does not offer group registration fees for workshops.
  

Target audience and language

Target audience

Occupational therapist clinicians, occupational therapist assistants, occupational therapy educators, occupational therapy leaders or managers, or students in occupational therapy or OTA/PTA programs who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in practical, evidence-informed approaches to dementia-friendly environmental design, home safety assessment, and occupation-focused environmental modification to support participation, function, and aging in place.

Areas of practice
Cognition & functional cognition, Dementia, Home assessment & modification, Older adults

Client age groups
Older adults (65+ years old)

Level
Beginner (0-2 years of experience in this specific practice area)

Language
English 

Preliminary workshop agenda

January 29, 2027 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Presenter(s)

Rachel Wiley, OTR/L
Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with a focus in dementia care, care partner support, and meaningful engagement across the continuum of care. She is the founder of Dementia Collaborative, where she develops and delivers practical, evidence-informed education and training for healthcare professionals, care organizations, and family care partners. Rachel’s work focuses on translating dementia care principles into practical strategies that support participation, quality of life, and person-centered care for people living with dementia. She is passionate about helping professionals and care partners better understand the impact of dementia and equipping them with tools they can use in everyday practice.
Other CAOT professional development activities with this presenter

Workshops are recorded! Your registration includes:

• Individual participation in a live workshop and opportunity to ask questions
• Handout of PowerPoint presentation
• Opportunities to network with other occupational therapists with an interest in this topic
• Access to the workshop recording for 1 month following the live sessions
• Certificate of completion

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to [email protected]. All cancellation requests received by January 13, 2027 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. Substitutions and transfers requests received by January 13, 2027 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after January 13, 2027.  

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to  [email protected] by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the same workshop if currently open for registration.  

CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before December 4, 2026 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a workshop due to insufficient registration up until December 18, 2026. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.