Your home is more than just a roof over your head or a place to sleep, it is a place where memories are made and where you should feel most comfortable. However, after injury some areas that may have been routine in the past can become more challenging, such as getting into or out of the shower, getting items from cabinets and moving between rooms. Home modifications can help you maintain independence, improve safety, and enhance your quality of life by allowing you to stay in your home.  

How Occupational Therapy Can Help 

Home modifications can range from simple adjustments to complete remodels depending on your needs. An occupational therapist is trained in assessing the person’s needs/abilities, their environment, and the activities, also known as occupations, that are performed in those environments. They will assess your needs and determine what tasks are difficult or unsafe and make appropriate recommendations for modifications, ranging from removing throw rugs to remodeling a bathroom. Their expertise can help with making your home functional and safe.  

Bathrooms 

Bathrooms are one of the most important areas to consider for home modifications after injury to improve accessibility and safety. You may benefit from: 

1. Walk-in showers – A walk-in shower with no curb can reduce your risk of falling and make bathing more accessible. 

2. Addition of grab bars – These can provide extra stability when getting into and out of the shower/tub. 

3. Handheld showerhead on a slide bar – A handheld showerhead can improve success with showering if you are required to sit, or to provide support for caregivers.  

4. Raised toilet seat – The addition of a raised toilet seat or replacing your toilet with a comfort height toilet (17”-19” from floor to top of toilet seat) can make sitting and standing easier.  

Other Home Modifications to be Considered 

1. Adding shelves that pull out to upper and/or lower cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms will allow easier access to items with limited reaching/bending.  

2. Wider doorways/hallways will make the home more accessible for someone in a wheelchair.  

3. Modifying countertops and sinks – Wall mounted sinks allow people to sit while performing their morning routine.  

4. Some people may benefit from re-doing the flooring in their home – removing carpeting and ensuring thresholds between rooms are flush will decrease a risk of falling. Others may benefit from flooring with limited patterns.  

Small but Still Beneficial Modifications 

1. Lighting adjustments – motion- sensor and bright, even lighting throughout the house limits shadows and makes spaces easier to navigate. 

2. Changing your door handles and the hardware on your drawers that will pass the closed – fist test. (Being able to open the cabinet or drawer with a closed fist) 

3. Removing throw rugs and keeping items off the floor to decrease the risk of falling 

4. Organizing kitchen and bathroom with most used items in easier to reach places 

5. Smart devices – Such as thermostats to automatically adjust the temperature of your home. Voice activated assistants can increase convenience and your ability to maintain independence within the home.  

Home modifications are about creating a space that works for you. After an injury, your home should be a place where you feel safe, supported, and able to live as independently as possible. Even small modifications can make a huge difference in improving your day-to-day experience. Focusing on accessibility and safety will help to transition more smoothly after an unexpected injury and will allow you to stay in your home. 

The Occupational Therapy team at Innovative can help make sure your space meets your specific needs. Our expertise can guide you in creating a custom, functional environment that aids in your recovery and promotes long-term well-being. These changes can greatly improve your quality of life and ensure that your home remains a comfortable place to live, no matter what the future holds.