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Occupational Therapy for Home Modifications: Enhancing Safety and Independence

Occupational therapists assess and modify homes for safety and independence. Strategies include installing handrails, lever-style faucets, grab bars, and ramps for accessibility. Common modifications address lighting, bathroom safety, and organizing for easy use. Individuals receive personalized modifications to suit their needs, promoting a safe and healthy home environment. Volunteer OTs work with house captains to conduct safety assessments and recommend improvements, such as reducing tripping hazards and ensuring proper installations. Home modifications aim to address mobility and vision difficulties, making everyday tasks easier and preventing accidents.

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Occupational Therapy for Home Modifications: Enhancing Safety and Independence

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  1. Home Modifications Program Karen Smith OT/L, CAPS Occupational Therapist ksmith@aota.org

  2. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS • Work in a variety of settings. • Work with clients across the lifespan. • Have knowledge and expertise in aging and disability issues. • Help clients do the things they need and want to do. • Are great partners in home modifications projects.

  3. OTs Assess the Fit Between Individuals and Their Environment Occupation Person Environment

  4. HOME MODIFICATION Adaptation to the living environment intended to increase ease of use, safety, security and independence.

  5. One of RTMC’s primary goals is to address home repair and maintenance issues that potentially present a safety risk or limit the access to or within the home. Strategy is driven by RTMC’s vision of a Safe and Healthy Home for everyone. Safe at Home

  6. Safety and Prevention are grouped into three categories: Falls Prevention Fire Safety and Prevention General Safety Home modifications enhance safety and prevent falls Safe at Home

  7. RTMC is committed to addressing the home modification needs of homeowners to help them remain safely in their homes. A team of OTs have volunteered to assist with home safety assessments and recommendations to house captains. We may assign OTs to some houses and encourage house captains to request an OT safety assessment for homeowners who are elderly or have a disability. HOME SAFETY ASSESSMENTS

  8. RECOGNIZING THE NEED For Home Modifications • Familiar Sights: • no access to outside world for wheelchair users • exposed pipes/wires • excessive clutter • unsteady stairways • inaccessible bathtubs, cabinets, storage areas • poor lighting • multi-level homes without handrails • abundant use of throw and area rugs • sitting surfaces too low • faulty doorknobs/locks/peepholes/doorsteps

  9. Handrails on both sides of steps Lever door handles and faucets Widened door ways or swing away hinges D ring handles on cabinet doors and drawers for easy grip Smoke detectors Walk-in or no step shower Grab bars in the shower, toilet, and tub Hand-held, flexible shower head Removing clutter Repairing walking surfaces Ramps for accessible entry and exit Home Modifications Include:

  10. RUGS CAN BE TRIPPING HAZARDS Secure area rugs with non-slip matting or double faced tape Remove scatter rugs that are not firmly secured. Secure area rugs with non-slip matting or dbl-faced carpet tape • .

  11. LEVER STYLE FAUCETS AND HANDLES • Lever handles - no need to grip or twist • Great Grips – low cost knob cover that makes gripping and turning easier.

  12. Add additional lighting fixtures Increase wattage – high efficiency bulbs Provide color changes to distinguish surfaces Reduce glare Low gloss floor surfaces Window coverings VISION PROBLEMS

  13. IMPROVED LIGHTING • Easy on/off rocker switch mounded 42-48” above floor • Non-glare task lighting for specific work areas www.tasklighting.com

  14. COMMON BATHROOM MODIFICATIONS • Horizontal and vertical grab bars • Bath seat • Hand held shower with slide bar or lower clip mount • Shower curtain rather than door • Raised toilet insert with arms • Non-slip mat or strips

  15. BATHROOM MODIFICATIONS

  16. HIGHER HEIGHT TOILET Toilevator www.kohler.com Toilet riser raises toilet 3 ½” Comfort height toilet adds 2 ½” to the seat height for easier on and off

  17. GRAB BARS & HAND GRIPS

  18. Come in various lengths 1½” or 1¼” diameter Space between bar and wall no more than 1½” OT can help advise placement Must be properly installed Wingits or Moen SecureMount Anchors Studs Wood blocking between studs GRAB BARS

  19. PROPER INSTALLATION • In Studs or • Wood blocking between studs • Moen SecureMount Anchors • Using Wingits

  20. INDIVIDUALIZE MODIFICATIONS • Make sure the modifications fit the needs of the homeowner or others in the home. • Work with the OT to ensure safe use of grab bars or other safety modifications.

  21. STAIRWAY SAFETYHand prints on walls indicate needfor additional railing for support.

  22. SIDEWALKS AND STEPS • Ensure at least one sturdy railing on all steps. • Repair uneven, broken, or badly chipped sidewalks to prevent tripping.

  23. Level floors and smooth surfaces

  24. Raise the height of chairs, beds, and sofas with Easy Risers or other devices to make getting on and off surfaces easier.

  25. ORGANIZE FOR EASY USEMove items used most often to easy to reach surfaces

  26. Removing clutter Removing or securing scatter rugs Adding smoke and carbon monoxide detectors Moving wires out of pathways Installing doorbells Large house numbers-for emergency situations Portable phones Sturdy door pull (Stanley 6½”) or 10-12” grab bar for one step entrances to assist with balance MODIFICATIONS THAT IMPACT SAFETY

  27. RAMPS CAN PROVIDE FREEDOM AND ACCESS This woman had difficulty leaving her home. A low-incline ramp will allow her the opportunity to come and go as she pleases. (easy grip hand rail needs to be added.)

  28. Consider if a ramp is the best solution. Is the person wheelchair bound or would railings on both sides of steps or shorter step rise work? Can signal disability and vulnerability May affect resale of the house Family may not think it looks good Must be done right (slope no more than 1:12, curbs, non-slip, etc) Check resources on RTMC website for design and construction Contact staff and OT for input and approval TO RAMP OR NOT TO RAMP

  29. National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications http://www.homemods.org/index.shtml Center for Universal Design www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/ Wood Ramp Design: How to Add a Ramp that Looks Good and Works Too http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/pubs_p/docs/rampbooklet296final.pdf AOTA RT Collaboration http://www.promoteot.org/AI_RebuildingTogether.html HOME MODIFICATIONS links to resources

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