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Community Occupational Therapy Services
Home Modifications
We can help you become more independent with customised home modifications, compliant with Australian Standards to improve your access, self-care, safety and comfort.
With MLEA, you are in the best hands
Our occupational therapists hold formal credentials and extensive expertise in home modifications. They employ universal environmental design and clinical assessment protocols to comply with all relevant regulatory bodies including Australian Standards, Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA), the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The home modifications process can be daunting, be assured our occupational therapists have current and relevant experience with all levels of home modifications. When you work with MLEA you work with our entire team, you will have one lead occupational therapist assigned to you, however, you will benefit from the collective intelligence of the broader team.
The best way for you to find out if you need home modifications is to book a home visit to review of your circumstances with one of our Occupational Therapists, who will set you on the path to Solve, Succeed, Thrive.
Home modifications is a blanket term used by occupational therapists, it encompasses any changes to the structure, layout or fittings in your home to enable you to function safely and easily.
Under the NDIS home modifications can be simple, often called Minor Home Modifications, while anything structural or requiring engineering sign off is regarded as a Complex Home Modification (CHM). If you are seeking to have your home modifications to be funded under the NDIS, our occupational therapists conduct a thorough assessment, with clear clinical justification and reasoning as to why you require the specific modification.
Our occupational therapists will consider if there is a cheaper option instead of home modification, then if not, will also consider whether the modification is considered to be “Reasonable and Necessary” for your specific needs as well as “Value for Money”
We can help you become more independent with customised home modifications, compliant with Australian Standards to improve your access, self-care, safety and comfort.
With MLEA, you are in the best hands
Our occupational therapists hold formal credentials and extensive expertise in home modifications. They employ universal environmental design and clinical assessment protocols to comply with all relevant regulatory bodies including Australian Standards, Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA), the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The home modifications process can be daunting, be assured our occupational therapists have current and relevant experience with all levels of home modifications. When you work with MLEA you work with our entire team, you will have one lead occupational therapist assigned to you, however, you will benefit from the collective intelligence of the broader team.
The best way for you to find out if you need home modifications is to book a home visit to review of your circumstances with one of our Occupational Therapists, who will set you on the path to Solve, Succeed, Thrive.
Minor Home Modifications
Minor home modifications do not change structural parts of your home, they often sound simple, however, it is recommended you have professional advice.
Examples of MINOR HOME MODIFICATIONS may include:
Complex Home Modifications (CHM)
Complex Home Modifications may change the structure of your home, require specific engineering and sign off from council. In addition to builders, there may be other tradespeople involved with the building works.
Examples of COMPLEX HOME MODIFICATIONS (CHM) may include:
There are limitations to what the NDIS will fund, they may be unlikely to fund the following;
To find out more about our unique approach to Home Modifications, all you have to do is get in touch, and we will contact you.
Enquire Now
Minor Home Modifications
Minor home modifications do not change structural parts of your home, they often sound simple, however, it is recommended you have professional advice.
Examples of MINOR HOME MODIFICATIONS may include:
Complex Home Modifications (CHM)
Complex Home Modifications may change the structure of your home, require specific engineering and sign off from council. In addition to builders, there may be other tradespeople involved with the building works.
Examples of COMPLEX HOME MODIFICATIONS (CHM) may include:
There are limitations to what the NDIS will fund, they may be unlikely to fund the following;
To find out more about our unique approach to Home Modifications, all you have to do is get in touch, and we will contact you.
The MLEA Difference why work with us for Home Modifications?
Step 1: Educate and Assess
We understand undertaking even minor modifications can be overwhelming. That’s where MLEA’s values of collaboration and empowerment can make the difference.
Educate
First, we sit down with you (and/or your carer and other nominated persons) one-on-one to discuss and clarify our process, key milestones, requirements of different funding bodies (e.g. NDIS), your expectations and our quality assurance checks and balances.
We will ensure you have everything you need to know at your fingertips, at every step of the way.
Assess
Our Registered Occupational Therapists are carefully selected for their skills, qualifications and experience and will ensure a thorough and high-quality assessment of your capabilities and limitations, and how these integrate with your home environment. They focus on facilitating the best functional match between your abilities and your home space.
Step 2: Who, how and what?
We understand our best value as occupational therapists is to guide builders and trades in your particular disability and clinical needs, not provide construction advice.
Who
This is the domain of the builder we select from our panel of builders with whom we have successfully worked with and approved for our work.
How
Based on drawings and/or photographs and instructions from your occupational therapist, the builder will consider structural and practical implications.
What
Once the best solution for your home is determined by the builder, they will provide a written quotation for the works.
Step 3: Same Page
Complex Home Modifications work best when everyone is on the same page. A joint visit is an essential step in the home modifications process. Together all parties will walk through the home to review and discuss the plans.
With a clear picture of your abilities, limitations and environment, your Occupational Therapist will set to work on drafting a Scope of Works defining the recommended modification.
Once the Scope of Works is shared with all key parties, your occupational therapist will collaborate with all involved to make amendments if requires and ultimately seek agreement with the finalized plan.
The occupational therapist will submit their report along with the Scope of Works to the NDIS. Ultimately the decision on funding any home modifications will be entirely up to the NDIS.
Step 4: Obtaining Funding Approval
When a third party is funding your modification, your occupational therapist needs to formally request approval in writing from your funding body (e.g. NDIS) detailing your needs, goals, solutions and costs. Different entitlement schemes or funding groups have different criteria to consider when submitting the application for funding. Your Occupational Therapist will handle all of this for you.
If you prefer to fund modifications privately, your occupational therapist can work with you and your nominated builder to satisfy your functional goals complaint with the Australian Building Standards.
Time frames may vary, however our Client Concierge will follow up and keep you updated along the way.
Step 5: Good to go!
The NDIS will usually inform you or the builder of your approval. Implementation times frames may vary across builders however, we aim to have the trades booked in as soon as possible after approval. However, our in-house Client Concierge will monitor progress and liaise as needed with you and the builder (or trade) to optimize completion outcomes.
Step 6: User Training and Post Modification visit
We want to ensure you are happy with the work completed in your home. It is also best practice for our occupational therapists to review the work completed to ensure it matches the original Scope of Works. A Post Home Modifications visit will be arranged to review the completed works. They will also check correct fitting, functionality and use so you are set up for safety and success.
To get you on your way to a more functional you, all you have to do is get in touch, and we will contact you
Enquire Now