The Home Accessibility Therapist Podcast

Summary
In this Therapist Thursday episode, Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L talks with Kristy, an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience and a mobile Medicare Part B outpatient practice in Southern California, about weaving home modifications and safety assessments into her business. Kristy shares how years in SNFs and home health, plus advanced training, broadened her understanding of equipment and funding so she can be a stronger resource to older adults and their families who want to stay safely at home.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
  • How Kristy’s career path from SNF to home health to launching her own mobile outpatient practice revealed major gaps in home safety knowledge and access, and why those experiences pushed her to specialize in home modifications alongside hands-on clinical care.
  • Practical ways she now approaches home safety and equipment, from moving beyond “Medicare-only” DME options to using specialty products and vendor expos, and applying what she learned in the CHAT program to match the right solutions to real homes, clients, and conditions.
  • Business and lifestyle insights on credentialing with Medicare, blending Part B services with home mods, deciding how full a caseload to carry, and using the flexibility of private practice to align work with personal values, family needs, and long-term plans to shift even more toward home modifications over time.
Guest details and links:
Kristy Yaya
Resources mentioned:
Connect with The Home Accessibility Therapist:

Creators and Guests

Host
Sue Doyle PhD OTR/L
Owner of The Home Accessibility Therapist

What is The Home Accessibility Therapist Podcast?

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.