What Are Home Modifications?

Home modifications are changes made to your home to improve accessibility, safety and independence.

Unlike temporary equipment that can be moved or removed, home modifications are permanent or semi-permanent changes to your home environment.

The purpose of home modifications is to reduce barriers within the home so you can move around more safely, complete everyday activities more independently and continue living comfortably in your own home for as long as possible.

Depending on your needs, home modifications may involve small adjustments to one area of the home or larger structural changes throughout the property.
Who Can Benefit from Home Modifications?

Home modifications may benefit people of all ages.
At Belong Health, our Occupational Therapists complete Home Modification Assessments for:

Children
Supporting children with disabilities or developmental conditions by improving access, safety and participation within the home environment.

Adolescents
Helping teenagers become more independent while improving safety and accessibility as their needs change over time.

Adults
Supporting adults living with disability, neurological conditions, injuries or progressive health conditions to remain as independent as possible.

Older Adults
Helping older Australians remain safe within their own homes while reducing falls risks and supporting healthy ageing.
What Is an Occupational Therapy Home Modification Assessment?

Before any home modifications are recommended, an Occupational Therapist completes a comprehensive Home Modification Assessment.
This assessment focuses on understanding:
  • Your current functional abilities.
  • How you move around your home.
  • Activities you find difficult.
  • Areas where safety may be compromised.
  • Your current supports.
  • Your future needs and goals.
  • The layout and accessibility of your home.
Rather than recommending modifications based solely on a diagnosis, Occupational Therapists assess how your individual circumstances affect your ability to participate safely and independently within your home.

This ensures recommendations are practical, appropriate and tailored to your everyday life.
Why Are Home Modification Assessments Important?

Every home is different.
Every person is different.
A modification that works well for one individual may not be suitable for someone else.

A Home Modification Assessment helps ensure that recommendations consider:
  • Your current needs.
  • Future changes.
  • Safety.
  • Independence.
  • Accessibility.
  • Your home layout.
  • Your support network.
  • Funding requirements where applicable.
By taking a personalised approach, Occupational Therapists can recommend modifications that are both functional and sustainable over time.
Our Occupational Therapists Can Help With

Our Occupational Therapists provide comprehensive assessments and recommendations for a wide range of home modifications, including:
  • Bathroom modifications.
  • Toilet modifications.
  • Shower modifications.
  • Kitchen modifications.
  • Laundry modifications.
  • Bedroom accessibility.
  • Internal access.
  • External access.
  • Ramps.
  • Handrails.
  • Grab rails.
  • Doorway modifications.
  • Flooring recommendations.
  • Lighting improvements.
  • Stair access.
  • Entry and exit modifications.
  • Wheelchair accessibility.
  • Ceiling hoists where appropriate.
  • Other accessibility modifications based on individual needs.
​
​Recommendations are always based on a comprehensive assessment of your functional abilities, goals and home environment.
Supporting Independence at Home

Home modifications are about much more than changing a building.
They are about helping people continue doing the things that matter most.

​Depending on your circumstances, home modifications may help you:
  • Move safely around your home.
  • Reduce falls risks.
  • Improve bathroom safety.
  • Complete personal care more independently.
  • Prepare meals more safely.
  • Improve wheelchair access.
  • Reduce the need for physical assistance.
  • Support carers.
  • Increase confidence at home.
  • Remain living in your own home for longer.

Our goal is to recommend modifications that improve participation while supporting long-term independence and quality of life.
Home Modifications for NDIS Participants

Many NDIS participants access home modifications to improve accessibility and support greater independence.

Where home modifications are being considered as part of an NDIS plan, our Occupational Therapists complete detailed Home Modification Assessments and provide evidence-based recommendations aligned with the participant's functional needs and goals.

Recommendations are developed in accordance with current clinical practice and relevant NDIS requirements. Funding decisions are made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
A Collaborative Approach

Home modification projects often involve multiple professionals working together.
Depending on the complexity of the project, our Occupational Therapists may collaborate with:
  • Builders.
  • NDIS Project Managers.
  • Architects.
  • Support Coordinators.
  • Physiotherapists.
  • Rehabilitation teams.
  • General Practitioners.
  • Family members and carers.
  • Other healthcare professionals.
This collaborative approach helps ensure the recommended modifications are practical, safe and appropriate for the individual's needs.
Why Choose Belong Health for Home Modifications?

Choosing the right Occupational Therapist is an important part of the home modification process.
At Belong Health, we provide:
  • Comprehensive Home Modification Assessments.
  • Experienced Occupational Therapists.
  • Evidence-based recommendations.
  • Support for children, adults and older adults.
  • Assessments across Perth, Mandurah and Rockingham.
  • NDIS Home Modification experience.
  • Collaboration with builders and project managers.
  • Practical recommendations focused on safety, independence and participation.

Whether you're considering a simple bathroom modification or a complex accessibility project, our team is here to guide you through the assessment process.
Examples of Home Modifications

Every person's home, lifestyle and support needs are different.

For this reason, there is no single home modification that suits everyone.

Following a comprehensive Occupational Therapy Home Modification Assessment, recommendations are tailored to your functional abilities, home environment, goals and the activities you complete every day.

Home modifications can range from relatively simple changes that improve safety to larger structural alterations designed to improve accessibility throughout the home.

Below are some examples of home modifications that may be recommended depending on an individual's needs.

Bathroom Modifications
The bathroom is one of the most common areas where home modifications are recommended.
Bathrooms often contain wet surfaces, confined spaces and obstacles that can increase the risk of falls or make personal care more difficult.
Examples of bathroom modifications may include:
  • Hobless (level access) showers.
  • Grab rails.
  • Hand-held shower heads.
  • Shower seating.
  • Non-slip flooring.
  • Accessible vanities.
  • Toilet modifications.
  • Increased circulation space.
  • Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
  • Improved lighting.
These modifications may improve safety while supporting greater independence during showering, toileting and personal care.

Kitchen Modifications
The kitchen is another area where accessibility can have a significant impact on everyday independence.
Occupational Therapists consider how you prepare meals, access appliances and safely move around the space.
Recommendations may include:
  • Lowered benchtops.
  • Accessible cupboards.
  • Pull-out shelving.
  • Modified storage solutions.
  • Accessible sinks.
  • Improved circulation space.
  • Wheelchair-accessible work areas.
  • Lever tapware.
  • Improved lighting.
The goal is to make meal preparation safer, easier and more accessible.

Bedroom Modifications
The bedroom should support comfort, safety and independence.
Depending on your needs, modifications may include:
  • Improved access around the bed.
  • Ceiling hoist provisions where appropriate.
  • Accessible storage.
  • Lighting improvements.
  • Floor surface recommendations.
  • Doorway modifications.
  • Space for mobility equipment.
Recommendations focus on improving mobility while reducing the risk of falls or injury.

Entrance & External Access
Safe access to and from your home is essential for independence.
Examples may include:
  • Access ramps.
  • Handrails.
  • Pathway improvements.
  • Threshold modifications.
  • Wider access points.
  • Improved external lighting.
  • Accessible entrances.
  • Step modifications.
These changes can improve access for individuals using mobility aids while reducing hazards around the home.

Internal Access Modifications
Sometimes the greatest barriers are inside the home.
Internal modifications may include:
  • Widening doorways.
  • Removing trip hazards.
  • Flooring recommendations.
  • Internal ramps.
  • Improved circulation space.
  • Door hardware modifications.
  • Lever handles.
  • Improved lighting.
These changes can make moving throughout the home safer and easier.

Wheelchair Accessibility
For individuals who use wheelchairs or other mobility equipment, accessibility throughout the home is particularly important.
Recommendations may include:
  • Wider doorways.
  • Accessible bathrooms.
  • Turning space.
  • Accessible kitchens.
  • Ramps.
  • Flooring modifications.
  • Automatic door systems where appropriate.
  • Improved circulation areas.
The aim is to maximise independence while improving access to all areas of the home.

Home Modifications for Children
Children with disabilities or developmental conditions may also benefit from home modifications.
Recommendations focus on improving participation while supporting both the child and their family.
Examples may include:
  • Bathroom accessibility.
  • Bedroom access.
  • Safe play areas.
  • Access to outdoor spaces.
  • Carer-assisted personal care.
  • Mobility around the home.
  • Safety modifications.
As children grow, their needs often change, so future planning is an important part of the assessment process.

Home Modifications for Older Adults
As we age, everyday tasks can become more difficult due to changes in strength, balance, mobility or endurance.
Home modifications may help older adults remain living safely and independently in their own homes for longer.
Examples include:
  • Grab rails.
  • Handrails.
  • Step modifications.
  • Bathroom accessibility.
  • Improved lighting.
  • Non-slip flooring.
  • Entrance modifications.
  • Falls prevention modifications.
These recommendations aim to reduce falls risks while supporting confidence and independence.
Home Modifications Are About More Than Accessibility

While accessibility is important, home modifications can also help:
  • Reduce falls risks.
  • Improve safety.
  • Support carers.
  • Reduce physical strain.
  • Increase independence.
  • Improve confidence.
  • Promote participation in everyday activities.
  • Support ageing in place.
  • Improve quality of life.
For many people, even relatively small changes can make a significant difference to everyday living.
Minor vs Complex Home Modifications

Not all home modifications are the same.

Some involve relatively small changes that improve safety or accessibility, while others require significant structural alterations to the home.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) generally classifies home modifications as either Minor Home Modifications or Complex Home Modifications, depending on the scope of work required.

Understanding the difference can help you better prepare for the assessment process and understand what may be involved.
What Are Minor Home Modifications?

Minor home modifications are relatively straightforward changes made to improve safety, accessibility or independence within the home.
They typically involve non-structural changes and are generally less complex to plan and complete.

Examples of minor home modifications may include:
  • Grab rails.
  • Handrails.
  • Lever door handles.
  • Small access ramps.
  • Threshold ramps.
  • Non-slip flooring.
  • Minor bathroom adjustments.
  • Shower seating.
  • Simple toilet modifications.
  • Improved lighting.
  • Small doorway alterations where appropriate.
Although these modifications may appear simple, they should still be recommended following an Occupational Therapy assessment to ensure they are appropriate for the individual's functional needs.
What Are Complex Home Modifications?

Complex home modifications involve more substantial changes to the home environment and often require structural alterations.

These projects usually involve collaboration between multiple professionals, including Occupational Therapists, builders, architects, engineers and NDIS Project Managers where applicable.

Examples of complex home modifications may include:
  • Complete bathroom renovations.
  • Accessible kitchens.
  • Major doorway widening.
  • Structural wall alterations.
  • Ceiling hoist installations.
  • Large access ramps.
  • Platform lifts.
  • Internal layout changes.
  • Wheelchair-accessible redesigns.
  • Significant external access modifications.
Because these projects are more extensive, they generally require detailed planning, assessment and supporting documentation.
How Does an Occupational Therapist Decide What Is Needed?

One of the most common misconceptions is that an Occupational Therapist simply recommends modifications that a person requests.
In reality, recommendations are based on a comprehensive assessment of how a person's functional abilities interact with their home environment.

Your Occupational Therapist considers factors such as:
  • Everyday activities.
  • Mobility.
  • Balance.
  • Transfers.
  • Personal care.
  • Safety.
  • Carer requirements.
  • Current equipment.
  • Future needs.
  • Goals.
  • Home layout.
Recommendations are developed to support participation while balancing safety, practicality and long-term usability.
Why a Comprehensive Assessment Matters

Choosing the right modification isn't simply about making a home more accessible.

It's about ensuring the modification genuinely improves the person's ability to complete everyday activities safely and independently.
For example, two people with the same diagnosis may require completely different modifications because they:
  • Live in different homes.
  • Have different mobility.
  • Use different equipment.
  • Receive different levels of support.
  • Have different goals.
  • Complete daily tasks differently.
This is why Occupational Therapists assess the individual first - not the building.
Supporting NDIS Home Modification Applications

Where home modifications are being considered through the NDIS, Occupational Therapists play an important role in documenting why recommended modifications are reasonable and necessary.

Depending on the modification, this may include:
  • Functional assessment findings.
  • Home environment assessment.
  • Clinical reasoning.
  • Supporting evidence.
  • Photographs where appropriate.
  • Measurements.
  • Risk considerations.
  • Individual goals.
  • Expected functional outcomes.
Recommendations are prepared in accordance with current clinical practice and relevant NDIS requirements.
Funding decisions remain the responsibility of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Working With Builders and Project Managers

For more complex projects, Occupational Therapists often work closely with other professionals to ensure recommended modifications are practical and meet the individual's needs.
Depending on the project, collaboration may occur with:
  • NDIS Project Managers.
  • Builders.
  • Architects.
  • Building designers.
  • Engineers.
  • Support Coordinators.
  • Physiotherapists.
  • Other healthcare professionals.
This collaborative approach helps ensure the completed modification reflects both the clinical recommendations and the practical requirements of the home.
Future-Proofing Your Home

One of the advantages of a comprehensive Home Modification Assessment is that it doesn't only consider your current needs.
Occupational Therapists also think about how your needs may change over time.
Where appropriate, recommendations may consider:
  • Progressive health conditions.
  • Growing children.
  • Changes in mobility.
  • Increased use of equipment.
  • Carer requirements.
  • Long-term independence.
  • Ageing in place.
Planning ahead may reduce the need for additional modifications in the future while helping your home remain suitable for longer.
Which Type of Home Modification Do I Need?

Many people contact us without knowing whether their situation requires a minor or complex home modification.
That's completely normal.
Following a comprehensive Home Modification Assessment, your Occupational Therapist will explain:
  • Whether home modifications are appropriate.
  • Which modifications may best support your needs.
  • Whether the recommended changes are likely to be considered minor or complex.
  • The assessment and reporting process.
  • The next steps for your particular situation.
Our goal is to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations that help improve safety, accessibility and independence within your home.
Our Home Modification Assessment Process
​
Every successful home modification begins with a comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment.

Rather than recommending modifications based on a diagnosis or medical condition alone, our Occupational Therapists carefully assess how your health, disability or functional needs affect your ability to safely and independently use your home.

This ensures every recommendation is personalised, practical and focused on improving your everyday life
Step 1 - Initial Consultation

The assessment process begins with a discussion about your current circumstances, concerns and goals.
Your Occupational Therapist will take the time to understand:
  • Your current living situation.
  • The difficulties you're experiencing at home.
  • Your goals for greater independence.
  • Your current supports.
  • Any equipment you already use.
  • Your medical and functional history where relevant.
This conversation helps us understand what is most important to you before assessing your home environment.

Step 2 - Home Visit

Your Occupational Therapist will complete a comprehensive assessment within your home.
During the home visit, we observe how you complete everyday activities within your own environment.
This may include looking at how you:
  • Enter and leave your home.
  • Move throughout different rooms.
  • Use your bathroom.
  • Prepare meals.
  • Access your bedroom.
  • Complete personal care tasks.
  • Use stairs or changes in level.
  • Access outdoor areas.
Assessing you in your own home provides valuable information that cannot always be identified in a clinic setting.

Step 3 - Functional Assessment

During the assessment, your Occupational Therapist considers much more than the physical layout of your home.
We assess how your functional abilities interact with your environment, including:
  • Mobility.
  • Transfers.
  • Balance.
  • Strength.
  • Endurance.
  • Coordination.
  • Fine motor skills.
  • Cognitive functioning where relevant.
  • Sensory considerations where relevant.
  • Falls risks.
  • Carer supports.
  • Current equipment.
This helps us understand both the barriers you experience and the opportunities to improve safety and independence.

Step 4 - Identifying Barriers

One of the key goals of the assessment is identifying the barriers that make everyday activities more difficult.
These barriers may include:
  • Narrow doorways.
  • Steps.
  • Uneven pathways.
  • Poor bathroom access.
  • Inaccessible kitchens.
  • Limited turning space.
  • Poor lighting.
  • Slippery surfaces.
  • Difficult transfers.
  • Limited storage accessibility.
Sometimes only one or two barriers need to be addressed to significantly improve everyday participation.

Step 5 - Developing Recommendations

Following the assessment, your Occupational Therapist develops recommendations based on your individual needs.
Recommendations consider:
  • Your goals.
  • Your current functional abilities.
  • Your home layout.
  • Future needs.
  • Safety.
  • Independence.
  • Practicality.
  • Cost effectiveness where appropriate.
Every recommendation is designed to support meaningful participation in everyday activities rather than simply modifying the physical environment.

Step 6 - Comprehensive Report

Following the assessment, your Occupational Therapist prepares a detailed report.
Depending on your circumstances, the report may include:
  • Background information.
  • Functional assessment findings.
  • Clinical observations.
  • Environmental assessment.
  • Identified barriers.
  • Recommended home modifications.
  • Clinical reasoning.
  • Supporting photographs where appropriate.
  • Measurements where required.
  • Supporting evidence for funding applications where applicable.
Reports are written clearly and professionally to help funding bodies and other professionals understand why each recommendation has been made.

Step 7 - Collaboration & Implementation
Once recommendations have been completed, your Occupational Therapist may continue working with other professionals involved in the project.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include:
  • Builders.
  • NDIS Project Managers.
  • Architects.
  • Building designers.
  • Support Coordinators.
  • Family members.
  • Carers.
  • Other healthcare professionals.
Our role is to help ensure the recommended modifications continue to reflect your assessed needs throughout the project.
A Person-Centred Approach

Every home modification assessment is different because every person is different.
Rather than using a checklist approach, we take the time to understand:
  • What is important to you.
  • How you currently live.
  • What activities you want to do more independently.
  • The challenges you experience.
  • Your long-term goals.
This person-centred approach helps ensure recommendations are meaningful, practical and aligned with your everyday life.
What Happens After the Assessment?

Once your assessment has been completed and recommendations have been discussed, the next steps will depend on your individual circumstances and funding pathway.
This may include:
  • Minor home modifications.
  • Complex home modification planning.
  • Additional Occupational Therapy recommendations.
  • Assistive Technology recommendations.
  • Functional Capacity Assessments where appropriate.
  • Collaboration with builders and project managers.
  • Submission of documentation to the relevant funding body where applicable.
Your Occupational Therapist will explain the recommended pathway and answer any questions you have before moving forward.
Why Choose Belong Health?

Our Occupational Therapists understand that home modifications are about far more than changing a house.

They're about improving safety, supporting independence and helping people continue living in the place they call home.
​
By taking the time to understand both the individual and the environment, we develop recommendations that are practical, evidence-based and focused on achieving meaningful outcomes.
NDIS Home Modifications

For many NDIS participants, home modifications can make a significant difference to everyday independence, safety and quality of life.

Home modifications funded through the NDIS are designed to reduce barriers within the home, improve accessibility and support participants to complete everyday activities more safely and independently.

Before home modifications can be considered, a comprehensive Occupational Therapy Home Modification Assessment is generally required to identify the participant's functional needs and provide evidence-based recommendations.
What Home Modifications Does the NDIS Cover?

The NDIS may fund home modifications that are considered reasonable and necessary and relate directly to a participant's disability and functional needs.

Every application is assessed individually by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), and funding decisions are based on the participant's specific circumstances.

Depending on an individual's needs, home modifications may include:
  • Bathroom modifications.
  • Toilet modifications.
  • Shower modifications.
  • Access ramps.
  • Handrails.
  • Grab rails.
  • Widened doorways.
  • Accessible kitchens.
  • Flooring modifications.
  • Entry and exit modifications.
  • Wheelchair accessibility.
  • Ceiling hoists where appropriate.
  • Other accessibility modifications that support everyday participation.
Funding decisions are made by the NDIA and not by Belong Health or the assessing Occupational Therapist.
Do I Need an Occupational Therapy Assessment?

In most cases, yes.
An Occupational Therapy Home Modification Assessment provides the clinical evidence needed to explain:
  • Why modifications are required.
  • How they relate to your disability.
  • How they improve safety.
  • How they increase independence.
  • How they support participation in everyday activities.
The assessment also helps determine whether the recommended modifications are appropriate for your current and future needs.
Without a comprehensive assessment, it can be difficult to demonstrate why particular modifications are necessary.
The Occupational Therapist's Role

Our Occupational Therapists play an important role throughout the home modification process.
This may include:
  • Completing a comprehensive home assessment.
  • Identifying barriers within the home.
  • Assessing functional abilities.
  • Recommending appropriate modifications.
  • Preparing supporting reports.
  • Liaising with builders and project managers where appropriate.
  • Answering questions throughout the process.
Our role is to provide independent clinical recommendations based on your individual needs rather than recommending modifications simply because they have been requested.
Supporting NDIS Applications

Where home modifications are being considered through the NDIS, our reports may include information such as:
  • Functional assessment findings.
  • Clinical reasoning.
  • Environmental assessment.
  • Photographs where appropriate.
  • Measurements where required.
  • Recommended modifications.
  • Expected functional outcomes.
  • How the recommendations relate to the participant's goals.
These reports are designed to help explain the participant's functional needs and why the recommended modifications may be beneficial.
Funding decisions remain the responsibility of the NDIA.
Working With Your Support Team

Home modification projects often involve several people working together.
With your consent, our Occupational Therapists may collaborate with:
  • Support Coordinators.
  • Plan Managers.
  • Builders.
  • NDIS Project Managers.
  • Architects.
  • Physiotherapists.
  • General Practitioners.
  • Specialists.
  • Family members.
  • Carers.
  • Other healthcare professionals.
Working collaboratively helps ensure everyone understands the recommended modifications and the goals they are intended to achieve.
Supporting Independence Through Better Design

Home modifications are not simply about changing a building.
They're about helping people continue doing the activities that matter most.
Appropriately designed home modifications may help participants:
  • Shower more safely.
  • Use the toilet more independently.
  • Prepare meals.
  • Move between rooms.
  • Enter and leave the home safely.
  • Reduce falls risks.
  • Improve wheelchair accessibility.
  • Reduce reliance on carers.
  • Increase independence in everyday life.
The goal is always to improve participation while creating a safer and more accessible home environment.
Every Home Modification Is Different

No two participants have exactly the same goals, functional abilities or living environments.
For this reason, Occupational Therapists do not recommend the same home modifications for everyone with the same diagnosis.
Recommendations are based on:
  • Functional abilities.
  • Everyday activities.
  • Home environment.
  • Current supports.
  • Future needs.
  • Personal goals.
  • Clinical assessment findings.
This individualised approach helps ensure modifications are both practical and appropriate for each person's circumstances.
Not Sure Whether Home Modifications Are Right for You?

Many people contact us before they know whether home modifications are appropriate.
That's perfectly okay.

Our Occupational Therapists can assess your current situation, discuss your goals and determine whether home modifications may help improve your safety, independence and participation at home.

If another solution - such as Assistive Technology, equipment or additional Occupational Therapy intervention—is likely to better meet your needs, we'll explain the available options and recommendations.
Why Choose Belong Health for Home Modifications?

Choosing the right Occupational Therapist is one of the most important parts of the home modification process.

Home modifications are about much more than changing a building - they're about helping people live more safely, independently and confidently within their own homes.

At Belong Health, we take the time to understand both the individual and their environment before making recommendations, ensuring every home modification is practical, evidence-based and tailored to the person's unique needs.
Experienced Occupational Therapists

Our Occupational Therapists have experience assessing the functional impact of disability, injury, neurological conditions and age-related changes on everyday living.

Rather than focusing solely on physical access, we consider how a person's abilities, goals and home environment work together.

This allows us to recommend modifications that improve participation while supporting long-term independence and quality of life.
Comprehensive Home Modification Assessments

Every recommendation begins with a comprehensive Occupational Therapy Home Modification Assessment.
Our assessments consider:
  • Functional abilities.
  • Mobility.
  • Balance.
  • Transfers.
  • Personal care.
  • Daily living activities.
  • Falls risks.
  • Cognitive factors where relevant.
  • Sensory considerations where appropriate.
  • Current equipment.
  • Home environment.
  • Future needs.
By taking a holistic approach, we can recommend modifications that genuinely improve everyday living rather than simply altering the physical environment.
Evidence-Based Recommendations

Every recommendation made by our Occupational Therapists is supported by clinical reasoning and based on the individual's assessed functional needs.
Recommendations are never based solely on a diagnosis or personal preference.
Instead, we consider:
  • Current functional performance.
  • Participation in everyday activities.
  • Safety.
  • Independence.
  • Long-term goals.
  • Environmental barriers.
  • Future planning.
This evidence-based approach helps ensure recommendations are appropriate, practical and clearly justified.
Comprehensive Reports

Following your Home Modification Assessment, your Occupational Therapist prepares a comprehensive report outlining:
  • Assessment findings.
  • Functional abilities.
  • Environmental barriers.
  • Clinical reasoning.
  • Recommended modifications.
  • Supporting evidence.
  • Functional outcomes.
  • Recommendations for future planning where appropriate.
These reports help explain why the recommended modifications may improve safety, accessibility and independence.

Where required, reports can support funding applications through relevant funding bodies, with funding decisions remaining the responsibility of the relevant organisation.
Focused on Independence

Our goal isn't simply to recommend modifications.

It's to help people continue doing the activities that matter most.

Depending on your circumstances, appropriate home modifications may help you:
  • Shower more safely.
  • Prepare meals more independently.
  • Reduce the risk of falls.
  • Improve wheelchair accessibility.
  • Reduce reliance on carers.
  • Increase confidence moving around the home.
  • Support ageing in place.
  • Improve participation in everyday life.
Every recommendation is developed with your goals, independence and quality of life in mind.
Immediate Capacity Across Perth

Belong Health currently offers immediate capacity for Home Modification Assessments across:
  • Perth
  • Mandurah
  • Rockingham
  • Peel Region
  • Surrounding areas
Our Occupational Therapists provide both community-based and in-home assessments, allowing us to assess your home environment in the setting where the recommendations will be used.
Why Families Choose Belong Health

✔ Experienced Occupational Therapists
✔ Comprehensive Home Modification Assessments
✔ Minor & Complex Home Modification Assessments
✔ NDIS Home Modification Experience
✔ Evidence-Based Recommendations
✔ Comprehensive Supporting Reports
✔ Collaboration With Builders & Project Managers
✔ Children, Adults & Older Adults
✔ Community-Based Assessments
✔ Immediate Capacity Available
Our friendly team are happy to help call us on 08 9586 3934 or send us a message

Have a question? or need more information

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Learn More About Home Modifications & Occupational Therapy

Choosing the right home modifications often involves understanding more than just your home environment. Depending on your individual needs, additional Occupational Therapy assessments, Assistive Technology or functional assessments may also be recommended.

To help you better understand the assessment process and available supports, we've created a range of resources covering home modifications, accessibility, equipment and Occupational Therapy services.
Home Modification Resources

Explore our home modification services and learn how Occupational Therapists can help improve safety, accessibility and independence.
Related Occupational Therapy Assessments

Depending on your goals and support needs, your Occupational Therapist may also recommend additional assessments.

Functional Capacity Assessments
Comprehensive assessments that explore how disability impacts everyday functioning and identify support needs across daily life.

Assistive Technology & Equipment
Learn how Occupational Therapists assess and recommend equipment to improve independence, safety and participation.

Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assessments
Understand how ADL Assessments evaluate personal care, domestic tasks and everyday independence.

Home Safety Assessments
Identify potential hazards within the home and receive practical recommendations to improve safety and reduce falls risks.

Falls Risk Assessments
Explore how Occupational Therapists assess falls risks and recommend strategies to improve confidence and safety at home.

Cognitive Assessments
Understand how cognitive changes may affect everyday functioning and participation within the home environment.
Housing & NDIS Supports

Home modifications are often one part of a broader housing or independence plan.
You may also find these services helpful.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Assessments
Supporting participants who may require Specialist Disability Accommodation due to extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.

Supported Independent Living (SIL) Assessments
Helping determine the level of support required for participants living independently or planning to move into supported accommodation.
Occupational Therapy Resources

Want to learn more about Occupational Therapy?
Explore our growing library of evidence-based resources covering assessments, equipment, home safety, NDIS supports and everyday independence.
Occupational Therapy Resource Hub
Ready to Improve Safety & Independence at Home?

Whether you're considering a minor home modification, planning a complex accessibility project or simply want professional advice about improving safety within your home, our experienced Occupational Therapists are here to help.

Every recommendation begins with a comprehensive Home Modification Assessment, ensuring proposed modifications are tailored to your individual needs, home environment and goals.

We proudly support children, adolescents, adults and older adults across Perth, Mandurah, Rockingham and surrounding areas, with immediate capacity available.
Frequently Asked Questions - Home Modifications

What are home modifications?
Home modifications are permanent or semi-permanent changes made to a home to improve safety, accessibility and independence. They are designed to help people with disability, injury, illness or age-related changes continue living safely and comfortably in their own home.

Who can benefit from home modifications?
Home modifications may benefit children, adolescents, adults and older adults who experience difficulties accessing or safely using areas of their home due to disability, injury, neurological conditions or age-related changes.

What are some examples of home modifications?
Examples of home modifications include:
  • Grab rails
  • Handrails
  • Access ramps
  • Bathroom modifications
  • Accessible showers
  • Toilet modifications
  • Widened doorways
  • Kitchen modifications
  • Non-slip flooring
  • Improved lighting
  • Wheelchair access modifications
  • Ceiling hoists where appropriate
The most suitable modifications depend on the individual's functional needs and home environment.

What is an Occupational Therapy Home Modification Assessment?
A Home Modification Assessment is completed by an Occupational Therapist to evaluate how your home environment affects your ability to complete everyday activities safely and independently. The assessment helps identify barriers within the home and recommends practical modifications based on your individual needs.

Why do I need an Occupational Therapist for home modifications?
Occupational Therapists assess how disability, injury or health conditions affect everyday functioning within the home. They provide evidence-based recommendations to ensure any proposed modifications are appropriate, safe and tailored to the individual's functional goals.

What happens during a Home Modification Assessment?
The assessment usually includes:
  • Discussion about your goals and daily activities.
  • A home visit.
  • Observation of how you move around your home.
  • Assessment of mobility, transfers and personal care tasks.
  • Identification of barriers.
  • Recommendations for suitable home modifications.

What are minor home modifications?
Minor home modifications are generally smaller, non-structural changes designed to improve safety and accessibility. Examples include grab rails, handrails, small ramps, lever door handles and minor bathroom modifications.

What are complex home modifications?
Complex home modifications involve larger structural changes to the home, such as accessible bathrooms, widened doorways, structural alterations, accessible kitchens or major access improvements. These projects often involve multiple professionals working together.

How do I know whether I need minor or complex home modifications?
You don't need to determine this yourself. Following a comprehensive Home Modification Assessment, your Occupational Therapist will recommend the most appropriate modifications based on your functional needs, home environment and goals.

What home modifications does the NDIS cover?
The NDIS may fund home modifications that are considered reasonable and necessary and relate directly to a participant's disability and functional needs. Funding decisions are made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Does the NDIS pay for home modifications?
The NDIS may provide funding for eligible home modifications where they are considered reasonable and necessary and meet the participant's individual needs and goals. Approval is determined by the NDIA.

Do I need NDIS funding to have home modifications?
No. Home modifications can also be completed by private clients or funded through other programs where available. An Occupational Therapy assessment can help identify suitable recommendations regardless of the funding pathway.

Can older adults have a Home Modification Assessment?
Yes. Home modifications can help older adults improve safety, reduce falls risks and remain living independently within their own homes for longer.

Can children have home modifications?
Yes. Children with disability or developmental conditions may benefit from home modifications that improve safety, accessibility and participation while supporting family routines and future development.

Will an Occupational Therapist visit my home?
Yes. Home Modification Assessments are completed within your home so the Occupational Therapist can understand your home layout, observe everyday activities and make recommendations specific to your environment.

Will I receive a report?
Yes. Following your assessment, you'll receive a comprehensive report outlining your functional needs, identified barriers, recommended home modifications and the clinical reasoning supporting those recommendations.

Can home modifications improve independence?
Appropriate home modifications may improve independence by making everyday activities such as showering, toileting, preparing meals and moving around the home safer and easier.

Can home modifications reduce the risk of falls?
Yes. Many home modifications are designed to reduce falls risks by improving accessibility, reducing hazards and making everyday tasks safer to complete.

Can home modifications support wheelchair users?
Yes. Occupational Therapists can recommend modifications that improve wheelchair accessibility throughout the home, including entrances, bathrooms, kitchens and internal circulation spaces where appropriate.

Do home modifications increase home accessibility?
Yes. Home modifications are designed to improve accessibility by reducing environmental barriers and making it easier for individuals to move safely throughout their home.

Do home modifications only involve bathrooms?
No. While bathrooms are one of the most common areas for modification, recommendations may also involve kitchens, bedrooms, entrances, pathways, living areas, laundries and outdoor spaces depending on individual needs.

Will my Occupational Therapist work with builders?
Where appropriate, Occupational Therapists may collaborate with builders, project managers, architects and other professionals to help ensure recommended modifications are practical and aligned with the individual's assessed needs.

Can home modifications be recommended without an assessment?
A comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment is generally recommended before any significant home modifications are undertaken. This helps ensure recommendations are evidence-based and appropriate for the individual's needs.

What is the goal of a Home Modification Assessment?
The goal is to identify practical ways to improve safety, accessibility and independence while supporting meaningful participation in everyday activities within the home environment.

Why choose Belong Health for Home Modifications?
Belong Health provides comprehensive Home Modification Assessments for children, adolescents, adults and older adults across Perth, Mandurah and Rockingham. Our experienced Occupational Therapists provide evidence-based recommendations, comprehensive reports and collaborate with participants, families, builders and other professionals to support safe and accessible home environments.

Let's Work Together

Accessing our Perth services

​Referrals to Belong Health
We are Medicare and Private Health fund registered for Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology.

EPC/Team care arrangements/Chronic disease (CDM) or GP management plans and self-referrals are all acceptable.

WA NDIS Registered Provider  
Medicare
You can get a referral from your/your child’s GP for OT on a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan this gives you 5 sessions for OT per calendar year with a $53 rebate available on each session or a Helping Children with Autism/PDD/ or an eligible disability package (20 sessions between allied health professionals, as set up by a Paediatrician/Psychiatrist) which gives your child under 16 years a $75 rebate per session for the 20 sessions, you can use up to 10 sessions per Health Professional (up to 10 for OT) and you will need a separate referral letter from your child’s Paediatrician for each Allied Health Professional you are seeking services from. 
Private Health
Your Private Health fund may cover up to 75% of the cost of OT sessions if this is included in your cover, be sure to call them or check your policy for details.

No referral or self referral
You do not require a referral for accessing OT
NDIS Registered Provider
We are an NDIS Registered Provider
Whether you or your child have NDIS funding that is NDIS Managed, Third Party Plan Managed or you are Self-Managing your funds, you are able to use your funding to cover the full cost of therapy services plus travel costs. You will need provide us with your/your child’s NDIS number and plan details ahead of your first session. Once you have booked a session or contacted us, our team will be in touch to discuss our service agreement and provide you with our services price list. 

13 Littleton st, Falcon

Phone: 08 9586 3934

EMAIL US
OFFICE HOURS:         MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8:30am - 4:30pm

BELONG HEALTH'S Paediatric Occupational Therapy SERVICES FOR Perth region

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Y: Yangebup, Yokine​
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