Home safety evaluations are assessments designed to make a living environment safer for an older adult.
During an evaluation, a professional reviews the home to identify potential hazards and recommends changes that help reduce the risk of falls or injuries.
The goal is to create the best possible match between the individual’s needs and their surroundings, allowing them to live more safely and comfortably at home.
Evaluations at a glance
- Goal: Home safety evaluations minimize injury risks by matching a patient’s physical needs with their home environment.
- Professional assessment: Skilled occupational and physical therapists identify hazards in kitchens, bathrooms, and walkways.
- Aging in place: These services allow seniors to remain in their homes longer through strategic modifications.
- Coverage: Evaluations are typically ordered by a physician and are primarily reimbursed through Medicare Part A.
Additional considerations
An occupational therapist will visit and assess the home and patient, looking for conditions in the home that may be unsafe/less safe for the particular individual.
The evaluation findings are shared with the patient and family. The referring provider suggests changes to make the home safer.
Common home safety hazards
- The kitchen can be hazardous, including the stove, slippery floors, high cabinets, low chairs, and trip hazards.
- The bathroom, another area where falls often occur, can pose the following hazards: low toilet height, slippery floor, bathmat, lack of grab bars or a bath bench, throw rugs, and dim lighting.
- The bedroom hazards include low bed height, throw rugs, dim lighting, thresholds, and low chair height.
- Walkways can even be hazardous when they include stairs, throw rugs, clutter, and dim lighting.
Who can benefit from a home safety evaluation?
Patients who have losses in physical, cognitive, functional, or social support can benefit from a home safety assessment.
A therapist from Mountain Land Physical Therapy Partners, skilled in in-home safety assessments, will visit the patient’s home to assess the patient’s physical and cognitive state, available social support, and identify risk for a possible “patient and environment mismatch.”
How is a home safety evaluation ordered and reimbursed?
- Order: Must be requested by your physician or primary care provider.
- Provider: Mountain Land Physical Therapy Partners therapists assess a contracted home health agency.
- Payment: Medicare Part A is the primary payer for this service.
Incidence and prevalence
- 95% of adults over 65 live in the community rather than in nursing homes.
- 10% to 15% of community-dwelling elders require significant support and assistance.
- Safety priority: As people age, the home environment becomes the primary factor in maintaining independence.
What is “aging in place”?
Aging in place is the option for maturing adults to “age” in their homes through home modifications and home therapy services to keep them safe as their functional abilities decrease.
Physical therapy
- Health evaluation to help you set up goals for the long term
- Exercising at home to help with your strength and endurance
- Gait Training: training to help with your walking
- Help with your wheelchair, walker, or cane
- Safety Measures
- Home adjustments to keep you safe
- Training for specific activities
Occupational therapy
- Teaching techniques to save your energy
- Assistance with daily living tasks
- Home adjustments to keep you safe, especially for bathing, grooming, and dressing
- Techniques to help with a loss of function of the arm(s) or/and leg(s)
- Access to other activities as your disease progresses
Request an appointment with Mountain Land Physical Therapy Partners to learn more and get started.