Home Assessment
A home assessment can also be known as an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assessment. It is an assessment of all the activities that a client would perform in their daily life, with the exception of work. This assessment is always completed by an occupational therapist, skilled and experienced in home modification and equipment prescription.
What does a home assessment involve?
A home assessment is usually completed in the client’s home by one of our occupational therapists, and would involve observation and assessment of activities of daily living such as:
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- Laundry
- Personal hygiene and dressing
- Lawn maintenance
- Leisure activities
- Driving
- Shopping
The purpose of a home assessment is to provide education, advice and recommendations to assist a client to return to all of their normal activities of daily living in a safe and sustainable manner. To achieve this, our occupational therapists may recommend:
- Home assistive equipment – for example over toilet frame, grab stick, cooking aids.
- Home modification – for example ramp installation, grab rails.
- Energy conservation strategies – such as performing tasks seated, use of commercial products to avoid heavy scrubbing, task rotation to avoid fatigue.
- Postural education & manual handling training – to complete tasks in a safe manner to minimize injury risk, for example demonstration of safe shower cleaning or safe accessing of low cupboards.
During a home assessment our occupational therapist will help to problem solve any areas of concern, and where possible ensure that changes are made at the time of the assessment and practiced with the occupational therapist present.
When to request a home assessment?
- If a client is having difficulties managing at home after an injury or surgery.
- In preparation for discharge from hospital after an injury or surgery.
- If there are concerns about safety in the home.
- When there is a history of falls in the home.
- Medico legal assessment
- Gratuitous care assessment
If you would like more information or to book a home assessment, simply contact us.