Home Modifications
At Living to the Max Occupational Therapy, we understand the challenges faced by those with a disability. For some, home modifications play a critical part in maintaining one’s independence. This is where we can help. We specialise in the assessment for, and design of home modifications, including complex and/or highly customised modifications to the home.
Experience. That’s our difference.
What are home modifications?
Home modifications are changes to the structure, layout, or fittings of a home that make everyday tasks safer and easier. For the elderly, people living with disability, and NDIS participants, home modifications can improve mobility, accessibility, and independence while reducing the risk of falls – creating safer, more functional living environments.
Common home modifications include:
- Removal of hazards (ie clutter, throw rugs, floor mats)
- Relocation of power points or light switches to improve access
- Grab rails to showers, toilets or home entries
- Prescription and design of landings, platform steps and access ramps according to Australian standards
- Bathroom modifications such as roll-in showers and other access measures
- Modifications to the kitchen to improve access
- Widening of doorways and automatic doors
- Installation of a ceiling hoist to assist person transfers
- Stair lifts
- Environmental control systems
Our Occupational Therapists have completed many major/complex home modifications which have included the removal of walls in the bathroom/toilet to increase circulation space and removal of baths to create a level access shower with appropriate drainage and floor gradient; widening of internal and external doors; modifying external access to provide improved access within the confines of existing structures, and considering the most logical and suitable access point to the home.
We have also redesigned many wheelchair-accessible kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets following the demolition of existing spaces to create safer and more accessible environments. As experienced Occupational Therapists, we assess, prescribe, and support NDIS home modifications tailored to each participant’s functional needs and goals. Having worked with many clients with complex physical disabilities, including quadriplegia, we have prescribed automated door openers and Environmental Control Units (ECUs) that can be operated using a wheelchair switch or advanced eye-gaze and scanning technology.
Trusted experience in home modifications for disabled and NDIS clients
For more than 20 years, Living to the Max has been a trusted name in home modifications for disabled Australians, helping clients achieve safer, more accessible, and more independent living environments. Over this time, we’ve successfully delivered NDIS home modification projects to the required Australian standards, working across a wide variety of client groups and funding bodies.
Our experience spans both government and private funding schemes, including the Motor Accident Commission, Transport Accident Commission, Allianz, Return to Work SA, Public and Private Trustee, Disability SA, Lifetime Support Authority, Territory Insurance Office, Julia Farr Housing, Housing SA, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, as well as self-funded private clients and NDIS participants.
This depth of experience means we understand the specific requirements, compliance standards, and approval processes tied to each funding body, particularly when it comes to NDIS home modification requests. From simple adaptations through to complex, structural home modifications for disabled clients, our Occupational Therapists know how to navigate documentation, assessments, and certifications so the process is as smooth as possible, for participants, families, and support coordinators alike.
Whether you’re seeking home modifications for disabled family members, applying for NDIS home modification funding, or working with another funding body entirely, our two decades of proven results give you confidence that your home modification project is in experienced, capable hands.
Some further information about Home modifications
Your NDIS plan
Home modifications may be included in your NDIS plan if:
- due to the impact of your disability, you or your carers cannot reasonably access and use frequently used rooms and spaces in your primary residence;
- your primary residence, in its current condition, has significant and adverse impacts on the sustainability of current living and care arrangements; and
- a suitably qualified Occupational Therapist has performed an assessment and recommended home modifications, considering all possible alternatives, including the use of equipment.
The NDIS funds a diverse range of home modifications to assist participants to achieve the goals in their plan. Home modifications vary for each participant, and are classified according to level of risk, extent of construction (non- structural or structural), cost and complexity.
There are three broad categories of NDIS home modifications and these are listed below:
Simple home adaptions
Simple home adaptions are low cost, such as grab rails or mounted shower chairs, and are generally easy for participants to access.
Minor home modifications
Minor home modifications are non-structural, but require an experienced Occupational Therapist to identify and deliver the right solution. The scope of work and associated costs are relatively low, for example, non-structural door widening.
Complex home modifications
Complex home modifications (CHM) involve structural changes, are relatively higher cost, higher risk and require a greater level of certification. CHM typically have a greater impact on participants’ lives, and may involve work on a combination of different areas within the home, such as bathroom, kitchen, bedroom or access to the home.
Who is qualified to assess for and prescribe complex home modifications?
The NDIA released guidance on the characteristics that an assessor of CHM supports should demonstrate:
- Professional qualifications and meet the registration requirements as an Occupational Therapist.
- A good understanding of the scope and purpose of the NDIS, particularly as it relates to the goals and use of
supports in a participant’s plan to help them to lead an ordinary life. - At least one of:
- Professional Credential: Associate Member or above of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA)
- Successful completion of Nationally Recognised Training modules CPPACC4020A and CPPACC5016A
- Employment at Senior Clinician level specifically responsible for CHM assessment
- NDIS registered providers who successfully completed NDIA-authorised training in, and were selected through an Expression of Interest process for, CHM assessment during the trial phase of the NDIS prior to 30 June 2016.
At Living to the Max Occupational Therapy, we have extensive experience in the assessment for and prescription of complex home modifications. As a result, we were one of a very small number of providers nationally, who were registered on the inaugural NDIS national provider panel authorised by the NDIA to prescribe complex home modifications. This could only been achieved through extensive experience, demonstrated through the submission of de-identified case studies of prior work.
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