Home Adaptation: Occupational Therapy Recommendations
Comprehensive guide to adapting housing to the needs of people with disabilities or loss of autonomy.
Home adaptation is a central mission of the occupational therapist. It involves adapting the environment to the person's capabilities to facilitate their autonomy, prevent accidents, and improve their quality of life. This guide details recommendations by room and technical solutions.
🔍 Evaluation Process
Steps of the Evaluation
- Initial interview: Needs, expectations, lifestyle habits
- Functional evaluation: Motor, cognitive, sensory capabilities
- Home visit: Configuration, obstacles, equipment
- Observation in situation: Performing activities in the real environment
- Recommendations: Detailed report with solutions and priorities
🚿 Bathroom and Toilet
The bathroom is the most accident-prone room. Its adaptation is a priority to secure hygiene activities.
Essential Adaptations
- Walk-in shower: Level access, no threshold
- Shower seat: Foldable or fixed, with armrests
- Grab bars: Positioned for transfers and balance
- Non-slip floor: Suitable covering
- Thermostatic mixer: Burn prevention
- Toilet riser: Facilitates standing up
Accessible Shower
Level access, seat, bars, non-slip floor
Adapted Toilets
Riser, lateral grab bars
Accessible Sink
Wall-mounted, tilting mirror, storage
🍳 Kitchen
Space Organization
- Activity triangle: Sink, stove, refrigerator close together
- Continuous work surface: For sliding dishes
- Adjusted heights: Accessible oven, microwave
- Induction cooktops: Safer
- Ergonomic storage: Drawers, sliding baskets
🛏️ Bedroom
- Bed at the right height: 45-50 cm to facilitate standing up
- Appropriate lighting: Night light, motion detector
- Path to the toilet: Clear and well-lit
- Accessible phone: From the bed
🚪 Circulation and Access
- Access ramp: Max slope 5%, non-slip
- Wide doors: Minimum 80 cm, ideally 90 cm
- Thresholds removed: Or beveled (max 2 cm)
- Handrail on stairs: On both sides
- Stairlift: If mobility is reduced and stairs are unavoidable
🏠 Home Automation and Safety
Automatic Lighting
Presence detectors, voice control
Teleassistance
Alert pendant, fall detector
Environmental Control
Shutters, heating, video intercom
💰 Financing the Work
- APA: Personalized Autonomy Allowance (60 years and older)
- PCH: Disability Compensation Benefit (under 60 years)
- Retirement funds: Aids for housing adaptation
- ANAH: National Housing Agency
- Tax credit: For accessibility work
- Local aids: Department, municipality, CCAS
💡 Role of the Occupational Therapist
The occupational therapist writes a reasoned evaluation report that justifies the recommendations. This document is essential for funding requests. They also assist in choosing solutions and monitoring the work.
🛠️ Complete the adaptation with suitable tools
DYNSEO offers cognitive stimulation programs to maintain daily autonomy.
Discover our tools →🎯 Conclusion
Home adaptation is a key intervention of the occupational therapist to promote home care. A personalized evaluation allows for proposing solutions tailored to the needs and capabilities of each person. Numerous financial aids exist to support these adaptation projects.
