Home Modification Assessments Adelaide
Thrive Health Therapies provides occupational therapy home modification assessments across metropolitan Adelaide. Our experienced occupational therapists assess how you move through and use your home, identify barriers affecting safety and independence, and recommend practical changes based on your individual needs and goals.
We assess minor and complex home modifications, including bathroom modifications, ramps, rails, doorway and access changes, kitchen modifications and other accessibility improvements. Assessments are completed in your home so recommendations reflect your abilities, everyday activities and physical environment.
Home Modification Assessments at a Glance
Who we support: Children, adults and older adults with disability, injury, health conditions or age-related changes
Where assessments take place: In your home across metropolitan Adelaide and selected surrounding areas
Assessment types: Minor and complex home modification assessments
Recommendations may include: Rails, ramps, accessible bathrooms, doorway changes, kitchen modifications and other safety or accessibility improvements
Funding options: NDIS, Support at Home, DVA and private funding, subject to eligibility
Reports: Detailed occupational therapy reports to support planning, quotations and eligible funding requests
What Is a Home Modification Assessment?
A home modification assessment examines how a person’s abilities, support needs and everyday activities interact with their home environment.
An occupational therapist observes how you access and move around your home and complete activities such as showering, toileting, dressing, preparing meals and entering or leaving the property. They identify environmental barriers and recommend modifications that may improve safety, accessibility, independence and participation.
Recommendations are individualised. A modification that is appropriate for one person may not be suitable for another, even when their diagnoses or mobility needs appear similar.
Home modification assessments may also provide evidence for funding bodies to consider when deciding whether a proposed modification meets their requirements.
How Can Home Modifications Help?
Appropriate home modifications may:
Improve access into and throughout the home
Reduce the risk of falls and injuries
Make showering, toileting and personal care safer
Support safer transfers and mobility
Reduce physical demands on family members, carers and support workers
Improve access to kitchens, bedrooms and other frequently used areas
Accommodate mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and walking aids
Support changing needs over time
Help a person remain living safely and independently at home
Your occupational therapist will consider whether a modification is likely to provide a safe, practical and sustainable solution. They may also consider whether equipment, therapy, assistance or another environmental strategy would better meet your needs.
Home Modifications We Assess
Bathroom and Toilet Modifications
Recommendations may include:
Grab rails and handrails
Accessible showers
Removal or modification of shower screens
Handheld showerheads
Changes to taps and fixtures
Shower seating and transfer equipment
Toilet modifications
Bidets and wash-dry toilets
Changes to bathroom layouts
Slip-resistant surfaces
Improved access for mobility equipment or assistance
Ramps, Entrances and External Access
Recommendations may include:
Access ramps
Handrails
Threshold modifications
Pathway and surface changes
Doorway access improvements
Automatic doors
External lighting
Safer access between the home, driveway and outdoor areas
Internal Access and Home Safety
Recommendations may include:
Internal handrails
Doorway widening
Changes to door hardware
Improved circulation space
Flooring modifications
Changes to reduce environmental hazards
Improved lighting
Access changes between different levels of the home
Kitchen Modifications
Recommendations may include:
Changes to bench or cupboard heights
Accessible storage
Pull-out shelving
Lever or touch-operated taps
Improved access beneath work surfaces
Changes to appliance placement
Improved lighting
Layout changes that support safer meal preparation
Bedroom and Living Area Modifications
Recommendations may include:
Improved access around beds and furniture
Space for mobility or transfer equipment
Changes to storage access
Doorway or circulation modifications
Environmental changes that support transfers, personal care or daily routines
Smart Home and Environmental Controls
Depending on your needs, recommendations may include:
Voice or switch-controlled lighting
Automated blinds or doors
Video doorbells and intercom systems
Environmental control systems
Accessible appliance controls
Visual, audible or vibrating alerts
Some technology may be considered assistive technology rather than a home modification. Your occupational therapist can help identify the most appropriate assessment pathway.
Minor and Complex Home Modifications
Minor Home Modifications
Minor home modifications are generally straightforward changes that do not substantially affect the structure of the home.
Examples may include:
Grab rails
Handrails
Small ramps
Threshold changes
Minor doorway or access adjustments
Changes to taps, fixtures or shower access
Other targeted safety and accessibility improvements
The classification of a modification depends on the proposed work, the home and the requirements of the relevant funding body.
Complex Home Modifications
Complex home modifications involve structural changes, customised solutions or work requiring greater technical input.
Examples may include:
Major bathroom redesigns
Significant doorway widening
Structural ramps or access changes
Extensive kitchen modifications
Changes to the layout of the home
Major alterations required for wheelchair access
Other customised structural work
Complex projects may require collaboration between the occupational therapist, a building construction practitioner, builders, designers, funding bodies and other relevant professionals.
What Does a Home Modification Assessment Involve?
1. Understanding Your Needs and Goals
Your occupational therapist will discuss:
The activities you need or want to complete at home
What is currently working well
Activities or areas that are difficult or unsafe
Your mobility, transfers and personal care needs
Equipment you currently use
Assistance provided by family members, carers or support workers
Your goals, preferences and expected future needs
2. Assessing Your Home Environment
The occupational therapist will assess relevant areas of your home. This may include:
Entrances and exits
Pathways and external access
Doorways and circulation spaces
Bathrooms and toilets
Bedrooms
Kitchens
Living areas
Stairs and changes in floor level
Access for mobility, transfer or personal care equipment
Measurements, photographs and observations may be collected with your consent.
3. Considering Possible Solutions
Your occupational therapist will consider different ways to address the identified barriers. This may include comparing:
Home modifications
Assistive technology or equipment
Changes to routines or task methods
Therapy or capacity-building strategies
Assistance from another person
Alternative layouts or environmental changes
Recommendations will be based on your functional needs, goals, home environment and applicable funding requirements.
4. Developing Recommendations and Reports
Where required, the occupational therapist will prepare a report describing:
Your functional abilities and support needs
The barriers identified within your home
The activities affected by those barriers
Recommended modifications
The clinical reasoning supporting each recommendation
Relevant measurements or specifications
Alternative options considered
Expected functional outcomes
Risks associated with the current environment
Other supporting evidence required by the funding body
5. Collaboration and Implementation
Depending on the modification, your occupational therapist may collaborate with builders, building construction practitioners, equipment suppliers, support coordinators, care providers and funding bodies.
The exact process will depend on the complexity of the work and the requirements of your funding arrangement. Building professionals remain responsible for construction advice, building compliance, quotations and the completion of approved building work.
6. Review and Follow-Up
Where appropriate, your occupational therapist may review plans, participate in relevant site discussions or assess the completed modification to confirm that it addresses the identified functional needs.
Additional recommendations may be required if your needs or living circumstances change.
Who Completes Home Modification Assessments?
Home modification assessments are completed by occupational therapists with appropriate home modification knowledge and experience.
Occupational therapists are trained to assess how a person’s physical, cognitive, sensory and psychosocial abilities affect everyday activities. During a home assessment, the occupational therapist considers both the person and the environment rather than recommending a modification based only on a diagnosis.
Thrive Health Therapies has occupational therapists experienced in minor and complex home modification assessments, disability, neurological rehabilitation, assistive technology, ageing-related changes and complex functional needs.
Who We Support
Our occupational therapists provide home modification assessments for children, adults and older adults with a wide range of needs.
This may include people with:
Acquired or traumatic brain injury
Spinal cord injury
Stroke
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
Motor neurone disease
Cerebral palsy
Autism
Intellectual disability
Developmental disability
Neuromuscular conditions
Amputation or limb difference
Arthritis
Chronic pain or fatigue
Dementia
Vision impairment
Physical disability
Age-related changes in mobility or function
Other conditions affecting safety, access or independence at home
A diagnosis alone does not determine whether a home modification is appropriate. Recommendations are based on the person’s functional needs, activities, environment and goals.
Home Modification Assessments Across Adelaide
Home modification assessments are completed in your home because the occupational therapist needs to observe the environment, take relevant measurements and understand how you complete everyday activities.
We provide assessments throughout metropolitan Adelaide, including the western, northern, eastern and southern suburbs. Selected services may also be available in the Adelaide Hills and surrounding areas.
Availability depends on your location, the complexity of the assessment and the experience required. Contact our team to confirm whether we currently service your suburb.
Funding for Home Modification Assessments
NDIS
Home modification assessments may be funded through the NDIS when they relate to a participant’s disability needs and meet applicable NDIS requirements.
Minor and complex home modifications require different assessment information and supporting evidence. Funding approval is not guaranteed, and modifications should not commence until the relevant approval requirements have been confirmed.
Support at Home
Eligible older people may access assistive technology and home modifications through the Support at Home Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme.
Access, assessment and contribution requirements depend on the person’s approved supports and individual circumstances. Your Support at Home provider can confirm your available funding and referral process.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Eligible DVA clients may be able to access occupational therapy assessments and recommended home modifications with appropriate approval.
Private Funding
Clients may also arrange and fund an occupational therapy home modification assessment privately.
Private health insurance rebates vary between policies and may not cover reports, travel or the cost of building work. Contact your insurer before proceeding if you intend to claim a rebate.
Why Choose Thrive Health Therapies?
Experienced occupational therapists: Our team includes occupational therapists experienced in home modifications, assistive technology, rehabilitation and complex functional assessment.
Individualised recommendations: Recommendations are based on your activities, abilities, environment, goals and expected future needs.
Minor and complex assessments: We assess targeted minor modifications and more complex structural accessibility requirements.
Mobile service across Adelaide: Assessments take place in your home throughout metropolitan Adelaide and selected surrounding areas.
Collaborative approach: We can work with you, your family, carers, support coordinator, care provider and relevant building professionals.
Detailed reports: Reports clearly explain the identified barriers, clinical reasoning, recommended modifications and expected functional outcomes.
Inclusive practice: We welcome people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, cultures, bodies and abilities.
Home Modification Assessment FAQs
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com
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A home modification assessment is an evaluation of how your abilities and support needs interact with your home environment. An occupational therapist identifies barriers affecting safety, access or independence and recommends practical environmental changes.
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An occupational therapist assesses your functional abilities, everyday activities, equipment, support needs and home environment. They recommend modifications that address identified barriers and explain the clinical reasoning for those recommendations in a written report where required.
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Common examples include grab rails, handrails, ramps, accessible showers, doorway widening, threshold changes, bathroom modifications, kitchen access changes, improved lighting and modifications that provide additional space for wheelchairs or transfer equipment.
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Minor home modifications are generally straightforward changes that do not substantially affect the home’s structure. Complex modifications involve structural changes, customised solutions or more extensive technical and building input.
The classification depends on the proposed work and the applicable funding requirements.
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Yes. Thrive Health Therapies has occupational therapists who assess complex home modifications. These projects may also require input from a building construction practitioner, builder, designer or other appropriately qualified professional.
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No! You can refer yourself or your child directly via our online referral form, or reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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The occupational therapist identifies functional barriers and recommends modifications to address the person’s needs. Builders and other building professionals provide construction advice, determine how the work can be completed safely and compliantly, and prepare relevant quotations or technical documentation.
Complex projects may require collaboration between the occupational therapist and a building construction practitioner.
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You generally need approval from the property owner and any other relevant body before modifications can proceed. If you rent your home, this may include written approval from the landlord or property manager.
Apartment buildings, community titles or supported accommodation may have additional approval requirements.
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No. The occupational therapist provides clinical recommendations and supporting evidence, but the relevant funding body decides whether an assessment or modification will be funded.
Do not commence work until you understand the applicable approval and funding requirements.
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No. Occupational therapy fees cover the clinical assessment, consultation and reporting required for the agreed service. Building quotations, design work, permits, materials and construction costs are generally provided separately by the relevant building professionals.
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The time required depends on the areas being assessed, the complexity of your needs and the type of report required. Minor assessments may be completed more quickly, while complex projects can involve several appointments, collaboration with building professionals and detailed documentation.
We will discuss the expected scope and likely time requirements before proceeding.
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We are currently accepting referrals for home modification assessments. Availability depends on your location, the type of modification and whether an occupational therapist with the appropriate experience is available.
Contact our team for current appointment timeframes.
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A medical referral is not usually required for privately funded or NDIS occupational therapy. Funding providers may have their own referral, approval or assessment requirements.
You can contact us directly or complete our online referral form. If another organisation will be paying for the assessment, confirm their approval requirements before booking.
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We provide home-based assessments throughout metropolitan Adelaide, including the western, northern, eastern and southern suburbs. Selected services may also be available in the Adelaide Hills and surrounding areas.
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