The Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory is dedicated to promoting the participation of older adults with functional limitations through the provision of intensive, tailored home modification interventions designed to enhance the performance of daily activities in the home.
Led by principal investigator Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, we are committed to conducting clinical translational research that will promote successful aging in place. The two important functions of the Lab are to:
- Teach best practices in home modification interventions to a wide variety of learners
- Advance the practice of occupational therapy through the conduct of clinical trials, the development of evidence-based guidelines, and the translation of findings into everyday clinical practice by identifying and resolving barriers to implementation
Through a series of funded research projects, we continue to examine the outcomes of interventions and develop valid and reliable assessments that measure performance and the magnitude of environmental barriers in the home.
Ongoing research projects in the lab include home modification studies that focus on the outcomes of interventions to remove environmental barriers and promote participation.
Community engagement
We have a Community Advisory Board of older adults who regularly meet with members of the Lab, and we also work with the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging, which provides services for older adults, including transportation and home-delivered meals.
We are able to do this work with funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington University Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, The Administration for Community Living, and the National Institutes on Aging.