Occupational Therapy and Home Modification: Promoting Safety and Supporting Participation

Participation in meaningful activities in the home and community contributes to health, wellness, and good quality of life. One way in which occupational therapy supports that participation is by advocating for increased accessibility through universal design and environmental modification. Occupational therapy professionals fill a unique role in environmental modification through evaluation, intervention, and outcomes measurement by facilitating the creation of safe, accessible homes that allow people to do what is important and relevant to them.

This publication, which also contains a CD of hundreds of photographic and video resources, is divided into three sections: "Evaluating the Client and Environment," "Developing and Implementing the Plan," and "Moving the Profession Forward." Chapters, written by occupational therapy professionals as well as policymakers, researchers, designers, and builders, articulate the meaning of home to clients, define universal design, offer assessments and outcomes measurements, delineate collaborative roles, discuss funding options, and provide networking and marketing guidance.

This text was created for occupational therapy students and professionals new to home modification but also will benefit those who have been practicing in this area through discussions of the latest assessment tools and new assistive technology. Therapists who work with adults and those who work with children will find helpful guidelines and suggestions.

Margaret Christenson, MPH, OTR/L, FAOTA, is president of Lifease, Inc., a developer of software that helps people find solutions to the challenges of living independently in their chose home setting. Carla Chase, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is associate professor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.