Occupational Therapy and Home Modification: Promoting Safety and Supporting Participation

Participation in meaningful activities in the home and community contributes to health, wellness, and good quality of life. One way in which occupational therapy supports that participation is by advocating for increased accessibility through universal design and environmental modification. Occupational therapy professionals fill a unique role in environmental modification through evaluation, intervention, and outcomes measurement by facilitating the creation of safe, accessible homes that allow people to do what is important and relevant to them. Chapters, written by occupational therapy professionals as well as policymakers, researchers, designers, and builders, articulate the meaning of home to clients, define universal design, offer assessments and outcomes measurements, delineate collaborative roles, discuss funding options, and provide networking and marketing guidance.