We talk first
What’s become harder, what matters most to you, and what you want to keep doing. Your health, your routines and the support you already have.
OT home assessment
Not sure what kind of help you need? Start here.
An OT home assessment looks at how everyday life is going at home, and what would make it safer and easier. You don’t need to know what to ask for. Working that out is my job.
At the visit
What we cover.
A visit usually takes 60 to 90 minutes, where you live. Family are welcome to join.
I watch how things actually happen
Getting in and out of bed, chairs, the toilet and the shower. Moving around the house, the steps, the garden and the kitchen. Whatever matters to you, whether that’s the clothesline, the car or the grandkids’ visits.
I look at the home itself
Lighting, flooring, steps, rails, the bathroom set-up, and anything that’s become a trip or a struggle. Measurements and photos where equipment or changes might be needed.
We agree what to do next
You’ll leave knowing the main recommendations. The written version follows, so you can take it in at your own pace and talk it over with family.
Afterwards
What you get.
The written part is real work too. Research, prescriptions and reports take anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours, depending on what’s needed and who it’s for. This time is part of the service, and I’ll try to give you an estimate range first.
Written plans usually arrive within 5 business days, with priority turnaround for hospital discharges and funding deadlines.
- A clear written plan. What I recommend, why, and what happens next, in priority order.
- Prescriptions for any equipment or home modifications, with the detail your supplier or builder needs to quote.
- A full report when a provider or funding body needs the clinical reasoning behind a recommendation.
- Follow-through. Liaising with your care manager, suppliers and builders so the plan actually happens.
Good to know
What can take longer.
Some assessments are simple: one visit, a few recommendations, done. Others need more time, and it’s better to know that upfront.
Equipment trials
Larger items like lift recliners, beds, mobility aids and shower commodes are best tried at home before they’re bought. That can mean a second visit, often with the supplier.
Several items to research
Comparing options, checking measurements and matching products to the AT-HM list takes time when there’s more than one item.
Home modifications
Detailed measurements and specifications, and working with builders and suppliers on quotes. Approval from a village operator, strata or landlord can add weeks.
Working with your health team
Talking with your GP, physio or specialist when their input changes what I recommend.
Funding paperwork
Equipment and modifications funded through Support at Home need a fuller written justification than a private plan does.
Follow-up
Checking equipment fits and works once it arrives, and showing you or your carers how to use it safely.
No surprises. I’ll always tell you, or your care manager, before extra time is used.
- Support at Home. Occupational therapy is a clinical support with no participant contribution. Equipment and modifications are funded through the AT-HM scheme.
- Moved across from a Home Care Package? Any unspent package funds go towards equipment and modifications first. An OT assessment is the first step to using them well.
- Privately. No referral, waitlist or eligibility test. Often the fastest option when something needs attention now.
Common questions
Do I need a referral?
Not if you pay privately. If you have a Support at Home package, ask your provider or care partner to refer you to Basecamp OT. You can request a specific occupational therapist, and they’ll arrange it.
Mum still has Home Care Package funds. Can they pay for this?
Yes. If she moved across from a Home Care Package, her unspent funds are used first for equipment and home modifications, before any new AT-HM funding. Ask her provider about her balance, then ask them to refer to Basecamp OT.
Can I arrange this for a parent who lives on the Beaches while I don’t?
Yes, and it happens often. We can talk on the phone first, you can join the visit by video if you can’t be there, and the written plan comes to you as well.
What if I only need one thing, like a shower chair or a rail?
That’s fine. The visit is shorter and the plan is simpler. I’ll still check the rest of the home is working for you, because the thing you call about is often not the only thing.
Ready to start?
Ring or send a few lines about what’s going on. Care managers can refer directly.