Making Everyday Spaces Safer in Perth
Why the Home Deserves a Closer Look
Most of us spend more time at home than anywhere else, yet many household hazards go unnoticed until someone gets hurt. Occupational therapy home safety support takes a close look at the spaces where daily life happens, from the bathroom and kitchen to the stairs and bedroom. At On The Go Rehabilitation Services, our mobile occupational therapists visit clients across greater Perth in their own homes. If a fall, an illness, or a change in mobility has made you rethink your living space, call us on 0429 115 211 and we will talk through the next step.
This article explains why home risks matter, how an occupational therapy home safety assessment works, which hazards are most common, and how funding and equipment fit into the picture. You will also find a comparison table and practical steps you can take this week.
Falls and Home Risks in Australia
Falls are a major cause of injury for older Australians, and the home is where many of them happen. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported that an estimated 111,222 people aged 65 and over were hospitalised due to falls in 2014–15. The same report found that about 85% of fall injury cases were recorded as occurring in the home or in residential aged care. Those figures are dated, and the report notes that location data is incomplete, so the true picture may be larger.
Why does this matter today? Falls can cause fractures, longer hospital stays, and a loss of confidence that leads people to move less. Reduced movement then weakens muscles and balance, which raises the risk of the next fall. Home safety work breaks that cycle by reducing hazards and building the strength and skills a person needs to move with confidence.
Home risks are not limited to older people. A child with developmental needs, an adult recovering from surgery, or a person living with a neurological condition may face hazards that are easy to miss. Occupational therapists look at the whole household, because the safest home is one that works for everyone who lives in it.
How Occupational Therapy Home Safety Assessments Work
An occupational therapy home safety assessment begins with a conversation. The therapist finds out about your daily routines, the tasks that feel difficult, and the goals that matter to you. They then visit the home and watch how you move through it. A bathroom visit, a meal preparation task, or a trip up the stairs shows far more than a written list of concerns.
During the visit, the therapist can check lighting, floor surfaces, door widths, the height of shelves and benches, and the placement of furniture. They may ask you to demonstrate a task so they can see where effort, balance, or reach becomes a problem. The findings then become a set of practical recommendations, often ranked from the most urgent to the least.
The main benefits of this approach include:
- Hazards are identified in the real setting rather than guessed at from a distance
- Recommendations fit your space, your equipment, and your routines
- Practice sessions help you build skills you can use every day
- Family members and carers find out strategies that support safer movement between visits
Common Home Hazards and Practical Fixes
Some hazards show up in almost every home. Loose rugs, cords across walkways, and poor lighting on stairs are among the most frequent. Simple changes often make a meaningful difference. Securing or removing rugs, tidying cords, and adding night lights along the route to the toilet can reduce the chance of a trip during the night.
Bathrooms need particular attention. Wet, slippery floors and high bath edges can make showering risky, especially for someone with poor balance or limited strength. An occupational therapist may recommend a shower chair, a hand-held shower head, or grab rails in carefully chosen positions. Grab rails should be installed by a qualified tradesperson, because a rail fixed to the wrong surface can fail under load.
Kitchens present a different challenge. Items stored high in cupboards or low under benches can strain the back and increase the risk of dropping hot or heavy things. Rearranging frequently used items to waist height, using a trolley to carry items, and choosing lightweight cookware can reduce those risks while keeping meal preparation enjoyable. Many clients tell us these small changes restore a sense of independence in the kitchen.
Home Modifications, Equipment, and Funding
Some safety improvements need more than a rearrangement. Ramps, widened doorways, bathroom modifications, and specialised equipment may be needed for people with significant mobility limits. In many cases, the occupational therapist’s report helps explain why a modification is needed, and it supports any funding request.
Funding depends on your circumstances. NDIS participants should check with their plan manager or support coordinator to see whether home modifications or equipment are included in their plan. Other funding sources, such as Medicare, DVA, private health cover, or self-funding, may apply in different situations. An occupational therapist can explain what documentation is typically needed, but the final decision rests with the funding body.
Key considerations when planning modifications include:
- Ask who will install any modification, and confirm that the installer is qualified for that task
- Consider future needs as well as current ones, such as a change in mobility or a new diagnosis
- Keep a record of recommendations, quotes, and receipts to support any funding request
Comparing Home Safety Support Options
Table: Occupational therapy home safety options compared across common funding routes
| Support option | Who delivers it | Typical setting | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDIS occupational therapy | Registered occupational therapist, funded through an NDIS plan | Home and community | Goals linked to independence and safety at home |
| Medicare CDM or EPC referral | Allied health professional referred by a GP | Home or clinic | Chronic condition care within a GP care plan |
| DVA-funded services | Occupational therapist approved for DVA clients | Home or clinic | Health and rehabilitation needs under DVA arrangements |
| Self-funded visits | Occupational therapist | Home | Flexible assessments and recommendations paid privately |
The best option depends on your eligibility and what you need. Ask each provider what the assessment includes, whether they provide a written report, and how they coordinate with your GP or support team.
How Our Occupational Therapists Support Home Safety
Our occupational therapists work in the place where safety matters most. We carry out assessments and interventions in clients’ own homes, which means the bathroom, the kitchen, and the front steps are part of the assessment rather than a guess. We look at activities of daily living, home modifications, equipment, and cognitive or perceptual skills that affect how safely someone moves through their home.
We are an NDIS approved provider, and we also accept Medicare, DVA, and private health fund referrals. Our service covers greater Perth from Two Rocks to Mandurah and the Perth Hills, and we offer seven-day availability with no waiting times for appointments. Because our team includes physiotherapy, exercise physiology, and speech pathology, we can coordinate care when home safety touches several goals at once.
If you want an occupational therapy home safety assessment, call 0429 115 211 or visit onthegorehab.com.au to book a visit.
Practical Steps for a Safer Home This Week
Start with a walk-through. Move through your home as you normally would, at the time of day you usually use each room. Note anything that makes you stop, reach, stretch, or feel unsteady. Those moments show you where to focus.
Next, make the quick fixes you can do safely. Tidy cords, move frequently used items to a comfortable height, and check that night lights work. Avoid anything that requires climbing on furniture to reach a high shelf, because that creates a new risk.
Then book an assessment if the hazards are harder to solve. Bring your notes, any recent changes in health or mobility, and a list of tasks that feel difficult. Those details help the occupational therapist focus the visit on what matters most.
Home safety needs also change with the seasons and with life events. A wet winter can make tiled floors more slippery, and a new medicine can cause dizziness. Build a short review into your routine, perhaps after each season or after any hospital stay, so the home keeps pace with your health.
Finally, review the changes over time. Homes and needs both shift, so a short check every few months keeps your space working for you.
Your Next Step Toward a Safer Home
Making a home safer is often about small, well-chosen changes rather than major upheaval. Which room in your home causes you the most worry? What task would you most like to do with more confidence? And who in your household would benefit from a shared plan for safer movement?
Our occupational therapists at On The Go Rehabilitation Services are ready to help you answer those questions. Call 0429 115 211 or visit onthegorehab.com.au to arrange an occupational therapy home safety visit across greater Perth.