Home safety assessment and design

Occupational therapists will review the design, furnishings and furniture of the home and identify areas of risk.

 

The bathroom is the place where the elderly often fall. Occupational therapists will check whether the floor is non-slip, whether there are handrails installed, whether the toilet is at an appropriate height, whether the bathroom can accommodate a wheelchair or assistive walker, whether the shower area can accommodate a shower chair, and whether it is easy to enter and exit the shower area safely.

 

Occupational therapists will also check whether there are carpets, clutter, or furniture in the living room that could easily cause a person to fall. Whether the height of the sofa is appropriate, and whether the chair used daily is comfortable and stable. In addition, occupational therapists will also check the height of the bed to see if it is convenient for the elderly to transfer. If safety issues are found, they will make suggestions to improve home facilities, including the purchase of assistive devices and the size of the devices.