Have you found yourself unable to access your home? Does your loved one require additional help to complete daily living tasks due to the inaccessibility of their home?
After a change in functional status resulting from an illness, injury, or progressive disease, your home may have become inaccessible. Perhaps you can no longer ascend the stairs to reach your second-floor bedroom. Maybe you’re unable to leave the hospital because your home lacks wheelchair access. Your wheelchair might not fit through the kitchen door, or perhaps you can no longer step into the bathtub for a shower.
A home evaluation assesses the physical space of your home, examining its structure and functionality, as well as a person’s safety and accessibility within and outside the space. The goal is to enable a person to safely access all areas of their home and achieve greater independence in daily living tasks such as transferring to bed, showering, toileting, meal preparation, and more. A home evaluation can involve simple modifications like adding wheelchair ramps or providing adaptive equipment, or it can be as complex as a full home remodel to enhance accessibility and independence.
During a home evaluation, an experienced Occupational Therapist will take pictures and measurements of each room, including entrances/exits, and compare them to the homeowner’s functional performance and adaptive equipment needs. Key areas of focus include entrances/exits, doorways, hallways, and the layout of rooms, particularly bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen/dining area.
An Occupational Therapist is skilled in evaluating the whole person, considering how a person’s limitations will impact their functional performance within a physical space, and determining how to modify and adapt the space to enhance independence and safety. An Occupational Therapist who has been additionally trained as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist also has increased training and knowledge of ADA compliance and accessibility standards.
Finally, home evaluations often require some out-of-pocket expenses. Thankfully, insurance coverage may be possible with proper documentation from your healthcare provider. Factors such as recent injuries, chronic conditions, or disabilities can justify the need for evaluation, which may result in insurance coverage. Coverage varies depending on insurance type and terms, so it’s crucial for individuals to consult with their healthcare provider and insurance company to understand coverage options, minimizing out-of-pocket costs.
Assisting individuals in maintaining independence and improving home functionality is a cause close to my heart. My goal is to support people in staying in their own homes as they age or manage various medical conditions. The longer they can preserve their independence without needing to relocate to a medical care facility, the more fulfilling their lives can be. Conducting a Home Evaluation for you or your loved one would be a great privilege. Please reach out today to see if a home evaluation would be right for you.
By Paige Syjut, OTRL, MOT, CBIS, CAPS
Occupational Therapist & Certified Aging in Place Specialist
Leigh Harter Speech Services PLLC
3552 Avon St., Hartland MI 48353
810-746-9452
