New apartment at Cox North trains students in at-home environment

A 900-square foot apartment has been built inside Cox North – but it’s not for living. Instead, it’s for learning: Christened Cox Cottage, the apartment will allow Cox College’s Occupational Therapy students to learn how to help patients with everyday skills such as cooking, vacuuming, eating, bathing and even sleeping. 

“While about 25 percent of occupational therapists treat people in hospitals, all treatment is directed towards a return to home,” says Dr. Elizabeth Torcivia, chair of Cox College’s Occupational Therapy master’s program. “Cox Cottage is meant to extend our opportunities for simulation beyond medical settings into the places that people actually live.” 

The apartment, which looks and feels like a home, consists of a living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and utility room. It’s a unique accessory to the new Occupational Therapy master’s program, which began at Cox College in 2015.


Occupational therapists provide skilled treatment to individuals of all ages facing physical, cognitive or psychosocial challenges. “Occupations” of self-care, work, and leisure activities are used by therapists to increase independence, enhance development, and/or prevent disability. Clients are empowered and enabled through innovative intervention activities, task adaptation strategies, environmental modifications, assistive devices, and technologies.