Adaptable Abodes helps seniors and people with disabilities live safely, comfortably, and independently at home. Whether you’re planning a remodel, aging in place, or seeking creative housing solutions, we’re here to help your home grow with you - not against you.

We offer personalized support through home safety assessments, accessibility design planning, construction advocacy, aging-in-place consulting, fall prevention strategies, and smart home upgrades. From grab bars to elevators, low-cost fixes to full remodels, we provide expert guidance every step of the way.

Founded by Kelly Nesbitt, a licensed Occupational Therapist and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), Adaptable Abodes brings over 25 years of clinical experience and nearly two decades of remodeling expertise. We specialize in functional, customized home design for people with neurological and progressive conditions including SCI, ALS, Parkinson’s, stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), dementia and more.

As your Homeowner’s Representative, we coordinate with contractors, review bids, support accessibility planning, and ensure your project stays on track - on time and within budget. We serve as your advocate and translator, making sure your goals are understood and your needs are met.

We also offer Occupational Therapy evaluations and 48-hour turnaround reports for elder law, guardianship, injury cases, and home modification assessments - supporting attorneys, families, and legal teams.

At the heart of everything we do is a holistic, client-centered approach that blends design, clinical insight, and a rock-solid network of senior-focused professionals - builders, designers, healthcare providers, elder care advisors, attorneys, and vetted funding sources.

Based in Portland, Oregon & Vancouver, Washington – serving clients virtually nationwide.

📞 Call (503) 673-6299 for a FREE 15-minute consult

📧 Email: AdaptableAbodesLLC@gmail.com

Hello – I’m Kelly Nesbitt - Occupational Therapist, Artist, Designer, and the founder of Adaptable Abodes.

With over 25 years of experience in hospitals, rehab, memory care, and home health - and still moonlighting in the ICU and Neuro units at Legacy Hospital - I’ve seen firsthand how environment and function shape quality of life.

After remodeling two of my own homes for comfort and accessibility, I realized I could merge my clinical background with my creative instincts - and that’s how Adaptable Abodes was born!

I’m a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) and hold the Executive Certificate in Home Modifications (ECHM) from USC’s School of Gerontology.

My approach is functional, heartfelt, and detail-driven. I love helping people create spaces that support safety, dignity, and ease.

I’m also part of a vibrant network of health professionals, aging experts, and fellow artists - all working to help people thrive at home.

Services

🏡 HOME ASSESSMENTS

In depth personalized safety assessments and accessibility upgrades - from grab bars to elevators - with contractor-ready specs that go beyond ADA standards. (Virtual assessments are options as well)

DESIGN PLANNING

Floor plan review, space planning, product sourcing, re-imagining & envisioning home, accessibility-focused design recommendations and referrals to a trusted professional network; from home equipment specialists, to handyman, general contractors, architechs, and design/build firms. Let’s kickstart your ideas - big or small - DIY (do it yourself) to DFY (done for you!).

24-Hour Turnaround

We provide prompt, detailed reviews of floorplans within 24 hours—including a written report outlining scope, accessibility considerations, and recommended revisions.

🛠️ HOMEOWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE

Providing comprehensive support and oversight throughout your home renovation - including contractor communication, timeline and milestone tracking, advocacy, and on-site coordination. Acting as your trusted liaison, we help ensure your project runs smoothly, stays on track, and reflects your goals.

🏘️ HOME SHARING

Consulting on shared housing, multigenerational living, co-housing models, and landlord-occupied dwellings to expand possibilities for how we live and age together.

🎨 UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Partnering with end users, architects, age-tech companies, and design/build teams to create spaces that are functional, beautiful, and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. I offer in-services and Lunch & Learn sessions to help teams deepen their understanding of accessibility needs for clients with conditions like stroke, MS, ALS, Parkinson’s, and dementia—covering intake questions, clinical insights, the design implications of disease progression, and when to seek professional consultation. Let’s start with a 15-minute chat!

📚 AGING-IN-PLACE

I offer engaging workshops, planning sessions, and presentations on fall prevention, home safety, smart technology, and accessible design—ideal for 55+ communities and assisted living settings. Sessions can be tailored for residents or staff and may include lighthearted elements like Inspector Hector, a humorous character who brings fall prevention education to life. Whether you’re looking to educate, inspire, or plan, let’s start with a free 15-minute call to discuss what would best support your community.

⚖️ LEGAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Expert Occupational Therapy witness services, functional and cognitive assessments, care needs evaluations and projections, and objective home modification reports to support guardianship, catastrophic injury, and elder law cases. Providing trusted, “boots on the ground” support throughout Oregon and Washington.

48-Hour Turnaround

We deliver legal service evaluations and written reports within 48 hours—supporting elder law, guardianship, injury cases, and home modification assessments with expert Occupational Therapy insight.

📩 Email

adaptableabodesllc@gmail.com

SCHEDULE A SERVICE

HERE

Certified Occupational Therapist in Oregon  # 1036721

Certified Occupational Therapist in Washington # 60952325

Executive Certificate in Home Modifications - ECHM

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist - CAPS

Abides by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) code of ethics

Member Home Modification Occupational Therapy Alliance

Member Portland Area Rental Owners Association

Member Home and Community Therapist Network

(Red grab bars in photo by PONTE GUILIO)

Before / After

Photos of renovation projects

The Tower of Power.

New construction, hybrid timber frame, double decker art studio, backyard speakeasy performance space, tiny home, 10-12 footprint, 25ft eave, seasonal plumbing (sink/toilet), electric heaters, mini fridge, ceiling fan, and 50 amp panel. Portland, Maine.

Project manager; Kelly Nesbitt, Designer; Rachel Conly @ Juniper Design, Construction; Greg Gilman & company

IN-LAW SUITE

Remodel and new addition construction, 3 room, single level studio, 500 sqft.

Project manager; Kelly Nesbitt, New Addition Designer; Das Chapin Design, Construction; Mark Pendergrass & company

REVIEWS

"Kelly was instrumental in helping us make design choices when building my mother's casita.

After my father passed, my husband and I decided to transition my limited mobility elderly mother to our home. Soon after, we recognized we needed our own spaces and plans for an ADU to suit her needs quickly began.

Though new building codes already mandated certain ADA accessibility requirements, we quickly recognized that we needed a more customized plan. Kelly gave us a detailed list of design requirements specific to my mother's needs, including: appropriate flooring selections, lighting considerations, floor layouts that would accommodate a future live-in caretaker, specific shower bar adaptations, design layouts that would create clear pathways, AND SO MUCH MORE.

We were able to pass this detailed list on to our architect, who was able to incorporate these accommodations into our final design. We are super grateful for her insight and guidance. Her input saved us thousands of dollars and time in what would be future renovations." - Dee Roberts - 10/2024

(ADU seen in photos, first floor is her mother’s casita apartment)

“I will be the first, of what will undoubtedly be many, glowing reviews. Not only have you provided a beautiful home for me during my time as your tenant (so much so that it was hard to leave), but you have also been a wonderful thought partner as I became a homeowner myself.And then, to top it off I got to be your first pro client as I moved toward renting property. Seriously y’all without Kelly I would have truly been lost as I navigated my first few weeks as landlord. She got me hooked up with all the applicable form templates, guided me to resources, and informed me of regulations and factors of which I should be aware.Right out of the gate I was thrown a significant curveball with a prospective tenant that put me in a sticky situation, and Kelly coached me through it like a boss!! I felt so supported and beyond grateful for her guidance.You have found your calling Kelly, and I am so happy for you. 🥸🦺” - Jamie Townsend 10/2024 (person smiling on right)

Please share my services with friends, builders, contractors, architects, designers, gerontologists, housing specialists, life care planners, senior real estate agents, property managers, senior advisors, elder attorneys, adult children of aging parents, and relevant community organizations.

Thank you!

RESOURCES & EDUCATION

complex environmental modifications: An occupational therApy perspective.

By Goldhammer, T 2024. Journal of Nurse Life Care Planning.

LISTEN TO THE “ON POINT” RADIO EPISODE ABOUT BOOMMATES

High housing costs are pushing more Americans to find roommates, including baby boomers and empty nesters. We take a look at the growing trend of intergenerational living and ask could ‘boommates’ help ease the housing crisis?

LEARN about HOMESHARE ORegon

Homeowners share their spare room. Renters have a truly affordable place to call home.

EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER HOME SHARE SUNSHINE HOME SHARE COLORADO

FIND HOME SHARING RESOURCES NEAR YOU

Learn about AVA HOUSING (HOUSE SPLITTING)

This is an innovative Home Share model in Dublin, Ireland. They provide access to grants, project management and support services to older homeowners who wish to adapt their home to provide space for a rental capacity upstairs.

JOYFUL PLACES - WATCH TRAILER HERE

Joyful Places is a potential upcoming TV show series that follows former occupational therapists Gretchen Kingma (realtor) and Tiffany Dill (designer) as they find and renovate homes for people with disabilities and their families, a demographic set to explode as the Baby Boomer generation reaches old age.