Occupational therapy provides clients with the tools to optimizetheir home environments relative to individual abilities andpromote full participation in daily life activities. As the population oolder adults continues to grow , home modifcations are a key actor in enabling individuals to “age in place,” or live in the place or home ochoice. An AARP study ound that more than 80% opeople older than age 50 want to age in their own homes. 1 Home modifcations also can beneft clients oall ages with health conditions, sensory or movement impairments, or cognitive disorders by supporting the perormance onecessary and desired daily activities (occupations), saety, and well-being. Home modifcations are “adaptations to living environments intended to increase usage, saety, security, and independence or the user. Home modifcations are used in conjunction with assistive devices and home repairs” (p. 28). 2 The home modifcation process includes evaluating needs, identiying and implementing solutions, training, and evaluating outcomes that contribute to the home modifcation product. 2 The results othis process may be recommendations or alterations, adjustments, or additions to the home environment through the use ospecialized, customized, o-the-shel, or universally designed technologies; low- or high-tech equipment, products, hardware controls and cues, fnishes, urnishings, and other eatures that aect the layout and structure othe home. 3 The Role oOccupational Therapy in Home Modifcations Occupational therapy plays a key role in identifying strategies that enableindividuals to modify their homes, thereby maximizing their ability to participate in daily tasks/activitie s. Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled at recognizing how the environment aects the ability to perorm desired occupations. An occupational therapist evaluates balance, coordination, endurance, saety awareness, strength, attention, problem solving, vision, communication, and many other unctions while the individual perorms daily tasks. In addition to the individual’s perormance abilities, occupational therapists also evaluate the home environment to identiy barriers to perormance. For instance, eatures can be identifed that increase the risk oalls (e.g., loose banisters) or present other hazards (e.g., overloaded electrical outlets). Occupational therapists also review aspects othe home that may require modifcation to acilitate perormance. For example, secure upper-body supports such as handrails or grab bars can assist someone who has difculty balancing during unctional mobility and sel-care activities. As part othe evaluation, occupational therapists analyze how a person interacts with his or her environment to complete a task or activity. Through this process, modifcations and intervention strategies are selected to improve the ft between these elements, with a goal omaximizing saety and independence in the home. The intervention plan may include but is not limited to strategies such as adaptive equipment, lighting, amily caregiver training, or remodeling. Home Modifcations and Occupational Therapy www.aota.org 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814-3425 Phone: 301-652-2682 T DD: 800-377-8555 Fax: 301-652-7711 Fact Sheet
