Bathroom safety assessment by a mobile OT, at your home.

Bathrooms combine the factors that cause most falls: wet or slippery surfaces, confined spaces, the physical demand of transfers (getting onto and off a toilet, in and out of a shower or bath), and often poor lighting. For older people, these tasks require good balance, leg strength and coordination, all of which decline with age, illness or medication effects. A bathroom safety assessment is often the most impactful single thing a family can do to reduce injury risk at home.

Our OT assesses: the floor surface (slip resistance, transitions between flooring types), shower or bath access and transfers, toilet height and transfers, grab rail placement (existing or required), door width and swing direction, lighting levels, tap and fixture types, storage layout, and the client's own transfer technique, balance and strength in context. We observe the person actually performing the tasks rather than just looking at the bathroom in isolation.

Common recommendations include: grab rail installation (shower, toilet, bath), non-slip floor treatments or replacement, shower stool or commode prescription, handheld showerhead, raised toilet seat, toilet frame, removal of a bath in favour of a walk-in or roll-in shower, threshold ramp, lever-style tap fittings, and improved lighting. The report prioritises by clinical urgency and is specific to your bathroom.

Yes. Bathroom safety modifications are among the most commonly funded home modifications through HCP (Levels 1-4) and CHSP. The OT assessment and report are required before the home care provider can approve the spend and organise tradespeople. For minor items (grab rails, shower stool), Level 1 or 2 may suffice. For major bathroom remodelling, Level 3 or 4 is usually required.

Yes. DVA Gold Card holders can access both the OT assessment and the approved modifications at no cost, coordinated through a DVA-contracted provider. White Card holders may be eligible depending on their accepted conditions. We can advise on the DVA pathway and handle the referral requirements.

No. A shower chair purchased off the shelf addresses one part of the picture, but bathroom safety involves the whole environment and the specific way the person transfers. An OT assessment identifies all the factors contributing to risk and provides specific, measured recommendations. A chair that's the wrong height, in the wrong position, in a bathroom without adequate grab rails can give false confidence while the underlying risk remains.

Yes. We often combine a bathroom safety assessment with a broader home falls risk assessment in a single visit. If there are concerns in the bedroom, hallway, laundry or on external steps as well, it makes sense to assess the whole home at once. Let us know when you call and we'll scope the visit accordingly.