What does the assessment entail and how long does it take?
From the moment of our first telephone conversation, we begin our interview process. We continue our interview and observation when we arrive at your home. We will ask questions about your lifestyle and how you function in your activities of daily living, as well as observe you doing some of your activities so as to understand how you are interacting with your environment. Once we have determined your areas of concern, we take measurements and notes so that we can fully develop a plan to increase your ease of living in your home. The assessment typically takes 60-90 min.
Who should be there?
The person(s) living in the environment to be modified must be there so that we can observe how they move around and perform ADLs in their existing environment. It is also very helpful to have family members or caregivers there to offer support or provide valuable input into the process.
Who pays for Home Modifications and/or Durable Medical Equipment?
Typically and unfortunately, home modifications are generally not covered by insurance and are paid for out of pocket by the homeowners. However, there are some programs that will provide funding for ramps and other medically necessary home modifications and medical equipment (e.g. grab bars, bedside commode). For durable medical equipment, insurance will sometimes consider coverage with a well written Letter of Medical Necessity to justify the cost of purchasing the medical equipment.
What will I get from this assessment?
Approximately one week after the in-home assessment, we will come back to your home to review the suggested modifications and recommendations. You will be presented with a binder that will include all recommendations, listed by priority, and with estimated cost (*disclaimer: construction costs cannot be estimated due to the unique nature of each house and differing contractor bids). This binder may include drawings of recommended structural changes, recommended products, and resources as applicable to each client.