Minor Home Modifications Through Support at Home: Grab Rails, Ramps and More

Small changes around the home can make a big difference to how safely and confidently you move through your day. A grab rail beside the toilet, a handrail on the back steps or a small ramp at the front door can be the difference between struggling with a task and doing it with confidence.

If you're receiving Support at Home, you may be able to access funding for these changes through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme.

What Is the AT-HM Scheme?

The AT-HM scheme is part of the Support at Home program. It provides funding for equipment and home modifications that help older Australians live safely and independently at home.

A few key things to know:

• AT-HM funding is separate from your ongoing Support at Home budget, so home modifications don't use up the funding for your everyday services.
• Home modifications are funded across three tiers: low, medium and high. Your tier is set during your aged care assessment, based on your needs.
• All home modifications must be prescribed by an Occupational Therapist, so the changes are safe and suit the way you move.
• Participant contributions apply, in the same way as your other Support at Home services.

Common Problems and Minor Modification Solutions

Every home and every person is different, so recommendations always depend on an individual assessment. Here are some common situations we see, and the types of minor modifications that may help.

Getting up from the toilet is getting harder
Many people start pushing up on the vanity, towel rail or toilet roll holder, which aren't designed to take body weight. A grab rail beside the toilet, positioned for your stronger side and the way you stand, gives you a safe, secure point to push up from and steady yourself.

Feeling unsteady in the shower
Wet floors, stepping over a shower hob and turning around in a small space can all affect balance. Grab rails positioned where you step in, stand and reach can give you stable support throughout your shower routine.

Struggling with the front or back step
A single step or raised threshold can be difficult to manage with a walker or wheelchair, or when your balance isn't what it used to be. A threshold ramp or step ramp can create a smoother, safer way in and out of your home.

Managing steps without support
Steps into the garden, garage or back patio often have no handrail at all. Adding a handrail on one or both sides gives you something secure to hold as you go up and down.

Tripping over door thresholds
Raised door tracks and thresholds between rooms can be a trip hazard, particularly with a walking frame. A small threshold ramp can help even out the transition.

Why an Occupational Therapist Makes the Difference

A grab rail in the wrong place, at the wrong height or not fixed into the wall structure may not help, and could even create a new risk. That's why Occupational Therapists look at much more than the room itself.

During a home modification assessment, your OT will:

• watch how you complete the task, such as standing up, stepping in or turning around
• work out whether you need to push, pull, steady yourself or support your balance
• consider your stronger and weaker side, your grip and your reach
• take measurements and check the space, wall construction and available surfaces
• think about how your needs might change in the future
• apply the relevant Australian Standards, adapted to suit you and your home
• provide a clear prescription for you, your Support at Home provider and the installer

Some modifications need input from a builder, particularly where structural support is uncertain. Your OT will let you know when this is needed.

How to Get Started

If you already receive Support at Home and have an AT-HM home modifications tier, speak with your Support at Home provider about arranging an Occupational Therapy assessment, or contact us directly.

If you don't have AT-HM funding yet but think home modifications could help, talk with your provider about whether a reassessment may be appropriate.

Forbes Care Occupational Therapists visit clients across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Gympie and Noosa.

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