Library

This paper describes the design of a project evaluating the effects of using a research-based strategy for managing housing adaptations (HAs); the evaluation targets clients’ perspectives in terms of activity, participation, usability, fear of falling, fall incidence, use of mobility devices, and health-related quality of life, and determines the societal effects of HAs in terms of costs.

A review of assessment tools for the home environment by the University of Southern California and the National Council on Aging.

This article summarizes seventy-seven studies from 16 countries to examine how home modifications evidence is measured.

This 2013 document of the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides guidelines regarding the persons and structures that are covered by the accessible design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

These 2010 Standards were set for newly designed and constructed facilities that fall under the purview of the ADA to be accessible and usable by persons with disabilities.

Tips from the Arthritis Foundation on home modifications to protect your joints and preserve your ability to do daily activities.

Aging and Accessible Homes Infographic developed by the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey that includes statistics on percentages of homes with certain accessibility features and percentages of older adults with difficulty completing specific activities of daily living.

This compilation of assessment tools provides examples of evaluations that can be helpful with determining home modification needs of consumers.

A fact sheet developed by the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence on the benefits of assistive devices and how to obtain them.

A booklet of considerations and strategies for adapting the home to support an individual living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

This paper presents the rationale and design for a clinical trial of a new interdisciplinary program aimed to reduce disability among low income older adults; the outcomes included decreased disability in self-care (ADL), improvement in instrumental ADLS, strength, balance, walking speed, and health care utilization.

A fact sheet developed by the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence on Simple Steps to Prevent Falls.

A brochure in Spanish by the Centers for Disease Control identifying hazards and suggesting changes in the home to reduce the risk of falling

This Centers for Disease Control checklist, organized by area of the home, aims to help identify and eliminate fall hazards in the home.

By using a multi-phase process, this article analyzes the complex clinical process that allows occupational therapists to deliver complex interventions while delivering home modification services.

This paper determines the effect size and acceptability of a multicomponent behavior and home repair intervention for low-income disabled older adults. The results found that the Community Aging in Place Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) intervention was acceptable to participants and feasible to provide and showed promising results.

This document from The American Journal of Occupational Therapy provides a description of complex environmental modifications and highlights the role of occupational therapy practitioners as providers of service within this area.

This extensive list of consumer materials focused on home modifications was created by the USC Fall Prevention Center of Excellence as part of an Administration for Community Living Project.

This paper estimates the cost benefit of the modifications from construction costs and published reports of effectiveness and cost of treating falls in Hawaii. The average cost of home modifications was $800 and the average annual averted medical cost of falling was $1728.

This article outlines cost-effective fall prevention interventions.

This is the first randomized controlled trial to examine the benefits of home modification for reducing fall injury costs in the general population. The results show a convincing economic justification for undertaking relatively low-cost home repairs and installing safety features to prevent falls.

List of special grants for veterans needing home modification.

This article discussed interventions that demonstrated greater efficacy to improve occupational performance. Implications for occupational therapy practice, education, and research are also discussed.

The results of the study indicated that the rate of decline in the frail elderly can be slowed through certain in-home personnel costs, reduced through a systematic approach to providing Assistive Technology and Environmental Interventions.

A multifactorial fall prevention program with exercise intervention may reduce the risk of falls in the short-term but not necessarily in the long-term. Awareness is key to reduce falls.

A fact sheet from the Albuquerque area southwest tribal Epidemiology Center

This resource is a copy righted document and its content, specifically the photographic portrait images belong to the AASTEC Tribal Injury Prevention Program.

This article investigated the role of environmental and behavioral factors surrounding fall incidents in a senior living community. Falls occurring in the bathroom can cause severe damage; three types of activities and five behavioral factors related to falls are identified.

This paper assesses the effectiveness of an environmental falls prevention intervention delivered by qualified occupational therapists or unqualified trained assessors. The study found that an environmental assessment prescribed by an occupational therapist significantly reduced the number of falls in high-risk individuals whereas that prescribed by a trained assessor did not.

This article aims to provide reliable and consistent practice guidelines to help prevent secondary falls in elderly adults. The guidelines include home and institutional assessment guidelines as well as recommended interventions.

The University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology/homemods.org partnered with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to compile and feature home modification and home safety programs falling in the categories of evidence-based, best practices, and innovative. Over 150 organizations from the aging, disability, housing, and health care sectors nationwide contributed to this inventory of home modification programs and practices.

This study focuses on the best practices and tools used by Occupational Therapists on Prince Edward Island, Canada to develop an interdisciplinary, multifactorial falls prevention program.

A PDF fact sheet by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on of Suggestions and ways caregivers can reduce the risk of falling for their loved ones, including making minor home modifications.

Providing injured, wounded, ill and/or aging Veterans with the resources they need to regain their mobility and independence, including home modifications.

A Spanish translation of the AARP HomeFit Guide, which was created to help people stay in the home they love by turning where they live into a “lifelong home,” suitable for themselves and anyone in their household.

A tip sheet by the American Occupational Therapy Association for adult children to help their parents age in place and the role of an OT (occupational therapist) to help with those specific concerns.

Home FAST is a home assessment tool designed to identify older people at risk of falling because of hazards within their home environment. The tool consists of 25 items that include a range of indoor and outdoor environmental and functional concerns. A dichotomous assessment, the user marks whether or not a hazard is present. A higher score indicates a higher risk of falling.

A brief introduction to home modification, a list of everyday situations that pose risks for falls.

Includes a review of types and costs of the most prevalent of home modifications, funding streams at the federal and state levels, and an Appendix listing recommended home modifications for specified conditions related to military service.

A list created by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of state programs and tax credits that help finance accessibility improvements to homes.

Hosted by the University of Buffalo, this site features archives of monthly online discussion on various aspects of home modifications.

Developed by the University of Southern California and the National Council on Aging, this extensive inventory of housing, lending, social, health care, tax, and non-profit funding sources can be used to support home assessment and/or modification and repairs.

A  fact sheet by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology with recommendations on how to make the home safer and more supportive, many of which are low or no cost.

Consejos para hacer su hogar más seguro y mitos comunes y la realidad de modificaciones en el hogar.

Tips to make your home safer and myths and realities of home modification by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

Tips to make your home safer and myths and realities of home modification by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. 

This study tested the safety benefits of home modifications such as handrails, grab rails, outside lighting, edging and more. The findings suggest that low-cost home modifications and repairs can be a means to reduce injury in the general population.

This 2008 report from the US Department of Health and Human Services outlines the use of home modifications by older adults.