Kelly Nesbitt, OTR/L, CAPS | Founder of Adaptable Abodes

ABOUT the FOUNDER

My name is Kelly Nesbitt. I’m a licensed Occupational Therapist with 25+ years of clinical experience, as well as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) and holder of an Executive Certificate in Home Modification (ECHM) from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

I’ve worked across hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and home settings, specializing in neurology, geriatrics, and complex medical care. My work centers on function - how people live, move, adapt, and remain independent in the places that hold their memories and meaning.

I come from a family of artists, designers, and makers. My grandfather in Ireland was a cabinetmaker, and my father spent 30 years designing Spalding golf balls, earning more than 150 design patents. My uncles were photographers and painters, and my sister is a chef who teaches cooking classes from her home in Austin, Texas. Growing up around that blend of craftsmanship, creativity, and innovation deeply shaped how I understand form, function, and design.

I grew up in New England and am first generation, shaped by my mother’s journey from Ireland. She immigrated at 23 and built a life for herself in Canada and the United States. With roots in Maine, that upbringing gave me a kind of Yankee ingenuity - the habit of making things work, building thoughtfully, and renovating through long cold winters with equal parts practicality and imagination. I have been based in the Pacific Northwest since 2013.

I’m also a performance artist and red-nose clown, and I’ve received numerous arts grants over the years. As an artist, I have produced, managed, and promoted performances and community events, which strengthened my skills in project management, coordination, and creative problem-solving.

Over the past 18 years, I’ve remodeled two homes and served as my own general contractor on a timber-frame tiny house and guest-suite addition (see portfolio). These experiences deepened my understanding of how homes evolve - and how thoughtful design can support sustainability, dignity, and shared living across seasons of life.

I’ve also had the honor of holding my father’s hand through his hospice journey, and I worked throughout COVID in the ICU. Both experiences deepened my respect for home, care, grief, and the importance of spaces that truly support people through vulnerability, change, and uncertainty.

I’m a natural connector and weaver, linking people, ideas, and trusted professionals. If you’re looking for a resource, there’s a good chance I have two - if not three - to recommend. I help individuals and families navigate life transitions with clarity, compassion, and practical guidance, translating health and mobility needs into smart, workable design solutions.

That blend of clinical expertise, creative vision, project management, and hands-on building experience led me to found Adaptable Abodes, where I collaborate with contractors, architects, attorneys, and care teams to create safer, more functional, future-ready homes grounded in trust, design, and care.

Kelly Nesbitt OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM

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