Family Engagement in Virtual Home Assessments: Expanding Roles for Occupational Therapists

The rise of videoconferencing-based home assessments has reshaped the practice of occupational therapy, particularly in collaborations with family caregivers. A recent qualitative study within the Veterans Health Administration provides deep insight into how these changes are affecting both therapists and families—and what OTs can do to respond.

Key Findings from the Study

• Increased Active Involvement: Family caregivers now play a significantly more hands-on role during virtual home assessments compared to in-person visits. They often perform tasks such as taking measurements, operating devices, and implementing recommendations—tasks traditionally handled by the OT.
• When Family is Essential: In some cases, the presence and participation of a knowledgeable family member is critical for the success of a videoconferencing session, particularly when clients have mobility or communication challenges.
• Caregiver Factors Matter: The quality of the assessment and subsequent home modifications is influenced by caregiver availability, familiarity with the home, and comfort with technology. These factors can directly affect outcomes for the client.
• Effective Strategies Shared: OTs identified the need for clear communication, preparation, and step-by-step training for family caregivers before and during virtual assessments, helping reduce errors and stress on both sides.

Implications for Occupational Therapists

With virtual care expanding, OTs are seeing their roles evolve. Here’s what this study suggests:

• Prepare and Train Family Caregivers: Providing simple instructions and advance orientation elevates caregiver confidence and accuracy when they’re part of the virtual assessment process.
• Streamline Workflows: Anticipate that remote assessment may increase workloads for both the OT and caregiver, and plan accordingly by allocating extra time and resources.
• Foster Flexibility: Develop checklists, simple guides, and communication scripts to share with caregivers before the session—especially for families not used to technology or measurement tasks.
• Advocate for Support: Highlight to managers and policy-makers the unique time and training needs when conducting remote assessments with family involvement.

Call to Action

Occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to guide families through the new landscape of videoconferencing-based home modifications. But this opportunity comes with new responsibilities.

Take the next step: Reach out to families before your next virtual home assessment. Provide them with clear instructions, offer a practice run if needed, and collect feedback after the assessment to refine your process. Share practical training tools and advocate within your organization for extra support and resources to make virtual care successful for clients and caregivers alike.

By embracing these changes, OTs can ensure safe, effective, and client-centered home modifications—no matter where or how they take place.

REFERENCES:

Kang, J., Kreider, C., LeBeau, K., Lee, M. J., Mburu, S., Findley, K., Myers, K., & Romero, S. (2025). Occupational Therapists’ Insights on Family Involvement in Videoconferencing-Based Home Assessments and Modifications in the Veterans Health Administration: A Descriptive Qualitative Study. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 79(3), 7903205120. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.050879