Lifestyle Redesign®: Occupational Therapy’s Evidence-Based Pathway to Healthy Aging

Healthy aging isn’t merely about prolonging life—it’s about enhancing vitality, purpose, and well-being through everyday habits and meaningful activities. The evidence-backed occupational therapy intervention known as Lifestyle Redesign® is at the forefront of this movement, empowering older adults to proactively shape their routines for greater health, independence, and satisfaction (Pyatak et al., 2022).

What Is Lifestyle Redesign®?

Lifestyle Redesign® is a structured occupational therapy approach developed and researched at USC Chan, built on collaborative sessions where clients and therapists evaluate daily routines, set health-centered goals, and develop individualized strategies for sustainable behavior change. It acts on the core occupational therapy principle: health is shaped by engagement in meaningful activities within a supportive context.

Professional Research and Outcomes

The Well Elderly Studies

Landmark randomized controlled trials known as the Well Elderly 1 and 2 studies demonstrated that Lifestyle Redesign® produces significant improvements in physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life in ethnically diverse older adults living in the community (Levesque et al., 2019).

• Participants received group and individual OT sessions covering safety, transportation, activity adaptation, and routine change.
• Results: Enhanced well-being, reduction in depressive symptoms, increased occupational performance, and cost-effectiveness compared to usual care (Juang et al., 2018).
• Quality-adjusted life years improved, confirming the intervention’s economic value for aging populations.

Mechanisms of Change

Lifestyle Redesign® works by increasing both the frequency and personal significance of meaningful activity (Juang et al., 2018).

• Frequent participation in personally valued activities, such as volunteering, hobbies, or social engagement, correlates strongly with healthy aging outcomes.
• Perceived significance—believing that activities matter for personal health—directly supports motivation and overall well-being.

Broader Applications

Recent research shows Lifestyle Redesign®’s adaptability beyond healthy older adults:

• Chronic condition management (e.g., diabetes, pain)
• Mental health support
• Telehealth delivery with comparable effectiveness to in-person OT (Mitchell et al., 2023).

What Does This Mean for Healthy Aging?

Occupational therapists using Lifestyle Redesign® help older adults:

Set realistic, individualized goals for nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management (USC CHAN, N.D.).

Address environmental and attitudinal barriers to activity and social connection (Levasseur et al., 2022).

Create routines that foster autonomy, resilience, and lifelong enjoyment (USC CHAN, N.D. B).

Experience measurable gains in well-being, confidence, and health-related quality of life .

Community-based occupational therapists can implement Lifestyle Redesign® for healthy aging by using structured, evidence-based steps in collaboration with community members and stakeholders. Here are specific action steps to guide effective practice:

Action Steps for Community-Based OT Lifestyle Redesign®

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Lifestyle Evaluation

• Perform holistic intake interviews that include medical history, current symptoms, daily routines, and environmental context ( USC Chan, N.D.).
• Assess eating habits, physical activity, sleep patterns, stress management, social support networks, and time management skills.

2. Identify and Set Collaborative, Meaningful Goals

• Use co-design strategies to set goals with clients that focus on their personal values and motivators.
• Goals may include improving physical activity, building social connections, enhancing nutrition, or increasing engagement with leisure and volunteer activities.

3. Deliver Education and Self-Management Support

• Facilitate group and individual sessions using didactic education, peer exchanges, and problem-solving activities.
• Teach practical skills: safety in the home, transportation options, financial management, and health literacy (Juang et al., 2018).

4. Promote Direct Experience and Real-World Practice

• Organize monthly community outings, skill-building workshops, and engagement with local resources for hands-on learning and habit formation.
• Introduce adaptive equipment, environmental modifications, and community mobility strategies.

5. Build Social Participation

• Foster opportunities for clients to connect with peers through group activities, community volunteer work, and culturally relevant experiences (De Coninck et al., 2024).
• Encourage leadership roles and advocacy within community organizations.

6. Address Barriers and Problem-Solve

• Support clients as they identify and overcome physical, cognitive, systemic, or attitudinal barriers to participation (Glasdam et al., 2021).
• Use motivational interviewing and autonomy-enhancing communication to encourage sustainable change.

7. Monitor Progress and Adjust Interventions

• Use ongoing assessment tools to track progress toward goals, adapting both group and individualized strategies as needed.
• Celebrate milestones and reinforce successful behavior change.

8. Mobilize Community Partnerships

• Engage local agencies, senior centers, caregiver organizations, and municipal partners to create supportive, accessible environments for healthy aging.
• Share program results and success stories to build community buy-in and inform future initiatives.

Professional Tips

• Integrate occupation-based and client-centered strategies at every stage.
• Use evidence from community-based research to tailor Lifestyle Redesign® modules for local population needs (De Coninck, 2024).
• Encourage reflective journaling so clients internalize progress and commit to lifelong wellness routines (Juang et al., 2018).

These steps ensure Lifestyle Redesign® is delivered effectively and sustainably in community settings, supporting older adults in achieving lasting physical, social, and emotional wellness through occupational therapy best practices.

In Practice

By focusing on what matters most to each person, Lifestyle Redesign® helps redefine aging—making it possible to live with greater safety, engagement, and meaning at every stage. For occupational therapy professionals and their clients, it is a gold standard for evidence-based aging interventions.

For more information on Lifestyle Redesign® and occupational therapy programs that promote healthy aging, visit the USC Chan Lifestyle Redesign® research publications or consult with a certified occupational therapist.

References

De Coninck, L., Declercq, A., Bouckaert, L., Döpp, C., Graff, M. J. L., & Aertgeerts, B. (2024). Promoting meaningful activities by occupational therapy in elderly care in Belgium: the ProMOTE intervention. BMC geriatrics, 24(1), 275. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04797-6

Glasdam, S., Oute, J., & Stjernswärd, S. (2022). Critical perspectives on implementation of evidence-based practice in occupational therapy – Exemplified by Lifestyle Redesign® in a Danish context. The British journal of occupational therapy, 85(3), 208–218. https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226211011401

Juang, C., Knight, B. G., Carlson, M., Schepens Niemiec, S. L., Vigen, C., & Clark, F. (2018). Understanding the Mechanisms of Change in a Lifestyle Intervention for Older Adults. The Gerontologist, 58(2), 353–361. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw152

Lévesque, M. H., Trépanier, J., Sirois, M. J., & Levasseur, M. (2019). Effets du Lifestyle Redesign chez les aînés : une recension systématique [Effects of Lifestyle Redesign on older adults: A systematic review]. Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d’ergotherapie, 86(1), 48–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417419830429

Levasseur, M., Levesque, ., Lacasse-Bedard, J., Lariviere, N., Filiatrault, J., Provencher, V., & Corriveau, H. (2022). Feasibility of Lifestyle Redesign for community dwelling older adults with and without disabilities: Results from an exploratory descriptive qualitative clinical research design. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 69(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12807

Mitchell, S., Sideris, J., Blanchard, J., Granados, G., Díaz, J., & Pyatak, E. (2023). Telehealth Lifestyle Redesign Occupational Therapy for Diabetes: Preliminary Effectiveness, Satisfaction, and Engagement. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. 43(3):426-434. doi:10.1177/15394492231172933

Pyatak, E. A., Carandang, K., Rice Collins, C., & Carlson, M. (2022). Optimizing Occupations, Habits, and Routines for Health and Well-Being With Lifestyle Redesign®: A Synthesis and Scoping Review. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 76(5), 7605205050. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.049269

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice, N.D. About Lifestyle Redesign. Retrieved from: https://chan.usc.edu/patient-care/faculty-practice/about

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. (N.D. B) Lifestyle Redesign Knowledge Mobilization Initiative. Retrieved from: https://chan.usc.edu/lifestyleredesign