Mobility Impairment Home Access Guide: Choosing Assessors, Equipment Providers, and Installers

Key Points

• Home modifications are prescribed by an OT following a mandatory in-person home assessment; modifications must match the individual’s specific needs and cannot be approved via telehealth
• NDIS funds home modifications under the Capital Supports budget; modifications over $20,000 or involving structural work require additional building reports and prior NDIS approval before work commences
• For older Australians, the Support at Home program and Commonwealth Home Support Programme fund home modifications; entry is via My Aged Care (1800 200 422)
• Installers must hold appropriate trade licences; for NDIS-funded work, the installer may need to be NDIS-registered; familiarity with AS 1428.1 accessibility standards is important
• The total timeline from OT assessment to completed installation is typically 3 to 9 months; begin the process well before the need becomes urgent
• OT assessments for home modifications in NDIS are priced at $193.99 per hour (2026-27 NDIS rates); a comprehensive home modification assessment and report typically takes 4 to 10 hours

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Mobility Impairment and Home Access

Mobility impairment covers a wide range of conditions and presentations: from mild gait difficulty or reduced walking endurance to complete loss of lower limb function requiring full-time wheelchair use. Regardless of cause, the common thread is that the built environment, including the home, presents barriers that reduce independence, increase falls risk, and affect dignity and quality of life.

Improving home access is one of the most direct and impactful interventions available. The right combination of modifications, equipment, and layout changes can transform a home from a place full of hazards and barriers to one that supports maximum independence, safety, and participation in daily life.

This guide covers how to approach home access improvement: the assessment process, the funding pathways, the types of modifications and equipment available, how to choose installers, and the common points where the process goes wrong and what to do to avoid them.

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Step 1: The OT Assessment

The occupational therapist is the professional who prescribes home modifications and equipment. The OT assessment is the essential first step; everything else follows from it.

Why the Assessment Must Be In Person

A home modification assessment cannot be completed via telehealth. The OT must:

• Physically measure doorway widths, corridor turning radii, bathroom dimensions, and room layouts
• Observe the person performing or attempting key tasks in the actual environment (not a generic approximation)
• Assess how specific features of this home (step heights, floor surfaces, distances between support points) interact with this person’s specific mobility and equipment
• Identify issues that are not visible in photographs or described in words

What the OT Assesses

During the home visit, the OT assesses:

Personal factors:

• The person’s current mobility: walking aids used, ability to transfer independently, falls history, arm strength (for wheelchair propulsion or grab rail use)
• Current equipment: mobility aids, wheelchair type, any specialised seating
• Prognosis: whether needs are stable, improving, or likely to deteriorate

Environmental factors:

• Entry and exit: steps, slopes, door widths, thresholds, paths
• Bathroom: shower accessibility, toilet height and space, bathing method, grab rail locations
• Bedroom: bed height, transfer space, access to wardrobe and power points
• Kitchen: bench heights, storage access, floor surfaces
• Living areas: furniture arrangements, floor surfaces, access to keys exits and exits

The gap between current access and what is needed:

• What daily tasks is the person currently unable to do or doing unsafely?
• What modifications would make each task safe and achievable?

The OT Report

The OT report following the assessment specifies:

• Each recommended modification (grab rails: type, locations, heights, lengths)
• Measurements and specifications for each modification
• Priority order (which modifications are most urgent for safety)
• Any equipment recommended alongside modifications
• The functional justification linking each modification to the person’s needs and goals

This report is the document submitted to NDIS or aged care to request funding.

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Funding Pathways

NDIS (Under 65, or Existing Participant)

Home modifications are funded under NDIS Capital Supports – Home Modifications.

Minor modifications (low-risk, under $20,000): The OT report is submitted with the NDIS plan or as a plan variation. NDIS approves the funding. The participant then obtains quotes from qualified installers and manages the installation.

Complex modifications (structural, over $20,000, or high-risk): Additional requirements include:

• A building assessment or certifier’s report in addition to the OT report
• NDIS pre-approval before any work commences
• In some cases, council permits (for structural modifications)
• The installer must be NDIS-registered

Rental properties: NDIS can fund modifications to a rental property, but the participant must obtain written landlord consent. NDIS will not fund modifications that make the property less suitable for general rental after the tenancy ends without specific justification.

My Aged Care (65 and Over)

Support at Home program: The new program (from 1 November 2025) provides flexible home support funding including minor modifications. Entry via My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and a Single Assessment System assessment for higher-level needs.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP): CHSP Home Modifications programs provide funded grab rail installation and minor modifications in most states. Wait times vary.

State government programs: Several states have separate home modification grant or subsidy programs for low-income older people or people with disability. Ask the My Aged Care contact centre or a social worker for state-specific information.

Private Funding

For people who do not qualify for NDIS or aged care funding, or for modifications needed quickly while awaiting funding approval, private payment is an option. The OT assessment process is the same; the funding source differs.

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Types of Modifications and Equipment

Entry and Access

Ramps: Replace or augment steps at the main entry and any external steps. Specifications matter: the slope ratio, handrail height, and surface material affect both safety and usability. An OT specifies the required slope based on the person’s mobility and whether they self-propel a wheelchair.

Threshold removal: Many homes have raised thresholds between rooms or at external doors; these are significant tripping hazards and mobility aids cannot traverse them smoothly. Threshold ramps or structural threshold removal improve access.

Doorway widening: Standard doorways (820mm) cannot accommodate most manual wheelchairs and power wheelchairs at all; 900mm clear opening is required for standard wheelchair access. Widening doorways is structural work requiring council approval in some jurisdictions.

Lever door handles: Replacing round knobs with lever handles enables one-handed operation and is accessible for people with reduced hand function.

Bathroom Modifications

Bathroom modifications are the most common and most impactful home modifications for mobility impairment.

Grab rails: In the shower, beside the toilet, and at the bath (if retained). Rails must be installed into studs or suitable backing; incorrectly installed grab rails are a safety hazard. The OT specifies locations, heights, angles, and weight ratings.

Roll-in or walk-in shower: Replacing a bathtub or step-in shower with a level-entry or low-threshold shower is a significant bathroom modification enabling safe independent or assisted showering. Involves plumbing work.

Shower chair or bench: Where a roll-in shower is not feasible, a shower chair or fold-down shower bench allows seated showering. The OT prescribes the most appropriate type.

Raised toilet: Standard toilet height is below the safe transfer height for many people; a raised toilet seat (portable) or a wall-hung toilet at the correct height (permanent modification) enables safer transfers.

Space: Wheelchair turning radius and transfer space beside the toilet are critical dimensions; bathroom modifications may include reconfiguring the layout to provide sufficient space.

Bedroom

Bed height adjustment: The correct bed height allows the person to transfer safely with or without assistance; adjustable bed bases allow ongoing height modification.

Ceiling hoist: For people who cannot transfer without significant manual handling, a ceiling-mounted hoist system provides a safe, dignified transfer method. Ceiling hoists require structural ceiling assessment and installation by a certified installer.

Bedroom layout: Furniture rearrangement to create clear pathways and transfer space.

Kitchen

Bench height: Fixed bench heights may be inaccessible for wheelchair users; roll-under benches or height-adjustable benches are modifications for people using wheelchairs.

Lever taps: Replacing turning taps with lever taps for people with limited hand function.

Storage: Lowering storage for wheelchair users; lazy susans and pull-out drawers improve kitchen access.

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Choosing Installers

Qualifications to Verify

For NDIS-funded complex modifications, the installer must comply with NDIS requirements and may need to be NDIS-registered depending on the modification type.

Questions to Ask an Installer

• Are you licensed and insured for this type of work?
• Have you installed disability-specific modifications before?
• Are you familiar with AS 1428.1 accessibility standards?
• Can you provide references from similar projects?
• How long will the work take and what disruption should we expect?
• Will you coordinate with the OT if there are on-site questions during installation?

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Common Process Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Starting without an OT assessment: Modifications installed without an OT assessment may not match the person’s needs; NDIS and aged care funding requires the OT report.

Waiting for a crisis: Beginning the process after a fall or hospital discharge means living unsafely for months while assessment, funding, and installation are completed.

Not obtaining NDIS pre-approval for complex modifications: Work commenced before NDIS approval may not be reimbursed.

Choosing an installer without the right licence: Unlicensed grab rail installation is a safety hazard; rails installed without structural assessment into the correct backing can fail under load.

Not considering future needs: For progressive conditions, modifications should be prescribed anticipating needs 2 to 5 years ahead, not only current needs.

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Key Resources

• NDIS Home Modifications information - official NDIS guidance on modification funding
• My Aged Care - aged care home modification pathways (1800 200 422)
• Occupational Therapy Australia - OT provider directory for home assessment
• AS 1428.1 Design for Access and Mobility - Australian Standard for accessibility in the built environment

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Connecting with Home Modification Providers

Carevo connects people with mobility impairment to OT assessors, equipment providers, and NDIS-registered home modification installers across Australia.

Find a home modification provider through Carevo