Home modifications
A rail beside the toilet, a ramp at the front step, a shower you can walk into. Small changes that decide whether you stay in the house.
The house didn't change. You did.
The bathroom that was fine for forty years has a lip on the shower base and nothing to hold onto. The back step is a bit high now. The taps need a grip you no longer have. None of that was a problem when the house was bought, and all of it is a problem at eighty-two.
Modifications are the cheapest intervention in aged care and the one families think of last, usually after a fall. Done in the right order, they buy years at home.
What we fit
- Grab rails in the shower, beside the toilet and along hallways, fixed into structure rather than plasterboard.
- Step-free shower conversions, hobless bases, handheld shower rails and slip-resistant flooring.
- Ramps and threshold ramps at front doors, back doors and garage entries.
- Handrails on internal and external steps, on both sides where the stairs warrant it.
- Raised toilet seats, over-toilet frames and lever taps that work with arthritic hands.
- Wider doorways for walking frames and wheelchairs, and brighter lighting on the routes you use at night.
The occupational therapist goes first
We don't take rail orders over the phone for anything but the simplest job. An occupational therapist comes out, watches you get in and out of the shower, off the toilet and up the back step, and works out where the problem actually is. It's frequently not where the family assumed.
The therapist then specifies the height, the length and the angle. Height matters more than people expect: a rail set for an average adult is useless to someone who has to pull themselves up from a seated position, and a rail you reach for that isn't where you need it is a hazard in its own right.
What happens on the day
The work is done by licensed trades who've been briefed on the therapist's plan and who understand they're working in an occupied house, not a building site. Furniture gets moved back. Dust gets cleaned up. Somebody shows you how the new fitting works before they leave, and the therapist checks the finished job against what was specified.
If a bathroom is going to be out of action for a stretch, you'll know that before the first tile comes off, and we'll talk through what you'll do in the meantime.
How the work is funded
The occupational therapist assessment sits in Clinical supports under Support at Home and is fully funded by the government, with no contribution from you. The modification work itself is funded differently from your week-to-week services, and what applies depends on your assessment and what's been approved. We sort that out with you before anything is ordered, in writing, so there are no surprises.
Getting it looked at
Call 1800 434 002 or use the form below. Tell us which part of the house is causing trouble and whether there's been a fall or a near miss. We'll arrange an assessment and set out the options. That conversation is free and you're not committed to anything after it.
Other services
- In-home allied health — the occupational therapy assessment that precedes the work.
- General home maintenance — gutters, gardens and the jobs you can't get to any more.
- Personal care — help with showering and dressing in the bathroom you already know.
- All services
Common questions
What counts as a home modification?
Anything fixed to the house that makes it safer to live in: grab rails, handheld shower rails, ramps, step-free shower conversions, raised toilet seats, lever taps, wider doorways, handrails on steps and better lighting. Loose equipment such as a shower stool or a walking frame is not a modification, though the same occupational therapist can arrange it.
Do I need an occupational therapist assessment first?
For anything beyond the simplest job, yes, and it is worth having anyway. The therapist watches how you move through the house and specifies exactly where a rail goes and at what height. A rail in the wrong place is worse than no rail, because you will reach for it. The assessment sits in Clinical supports and is fully government funded.
How are home modifications paid for?
Modifications are funded differently from the services you receive week to week, and what applies depends on your assessment and what has been approved for you. We work that out with you before anything is ordered, so you know what the job involves and what, if anything, you would pay. Nothing is booked until you have agreed to it in writing.
I rent. Can I still have modifications done?
Usually, but you need the owner's written permission first. Most landlords agree to grab rails and handheld shower rails once they understand the request. We can give you the occupational therapist's recommendation in writing so the conversation with the agent is about a safety report rather than a favour.
How long does the work take?
A grab rail or a set of lever taps is often one short visit. A step-free shower or a ramp takes longer, because there is an assessment, a scope of works and a trade to schedule. We give you the timeline before you commit, and we do not start pulling a bathroom apart without telling you how long you will be without it.
Can I have modifications done before my package is approved?
Yes, privately, and small jobs are often worth doing straight away rather than waiting. A rail beside the toilet costs far less than the fall it prevents. Call us and we will tell you which parts are worth doing now and which are better held until your assessment is finished.
Enquire about home modifications
Tell us where you're up to and we'll be in touch. Prefer to talk? Call 1800 434 002.