Laura M. Caron-Parker

Laura M. Caron-Parker received her BA in occupational therapy from St. Catherine University. She obtained her Executive Certificate in Home Modification from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2018. She has more than 35 years of experience working with the older adult population across diverse healthcare settings as well as in the community. Her interest in working in the home and community space was influenced by participating as one of two occupational therapists in the first year of the USC Well Elderly Research Project in 1994. She thrives on innovative approaches to care to meet the growing needs of the older adult population to age in place with dignity and respect.

In her current role as a clinical director, she is a consultant to rehabilitation departments, supporting human-centered care while ensuring evidence-based practice is at the core of service delivery. She has been recognized by her employer as a master clinician in the areas of wellness, dementia, and low vision, and has presented professionally on these topics over the years. Laura is also a CarFit instructor, providing training to those interested in person–vehicle fit. Through her involvement with CarFit, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) awarded her with service commendations. She sits on the National AARP Driver Safety Advisory Council as an appointed volunteer and has been recognized with the AARP Driver Safety Director’s Award for Distinguished Service as well as AARP Connecticut Driver Safety Volunteer of the Month. More recently in 2022, the National Academies of Practice, an interprofessional group of healthcare practitioners, recognized Laura as a Distinguished Practitioner Fellow.