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Home modifications and maintenance
Older Australians receiving care at home want to feel safe, and live in a comfortable setting that is easily accessible.
If you’ll be staying in your current home, modifications may be in order, especially if you’re recovering from an accident or illness. The people undertaking those modifications need to be experienced in this type of work – try to find people who are members of an appropriate design or trade association. It’s also important to clarify quotes before making any financial commitments.
Sometimes, however, you’ll be better off moving rather than trying to make these modifications. If so, make certain that your new home is close to family, friends, health services, shops and transport. You’ll also want to consider the surrounding landscape, traffic levels and the condition of footpaths, as well as whether you’ll feel happy and safe in the area.
- Safety checklist
- Master Builders Association (MBA) (more information)
- Independent Living Centres (more information)
- Home and Community Care (HACC) (more information) Program
- Home maintenance schemes
- War veterans (more information)
- Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres (more information)
Safety checklist
Check that your house has:
- a floor with a non-slip surface, especially in outdoor areas exposed to frost or rain,
- no loose rugs and a simple furniture arrangement for extra accessibility,
- good lighting that’s evenly distributed, without glaring directly at you – and extra lights if you’re visually impaired,
- appropriate grab-rails by the bath, shower and toilet,
- space to move a wheelchair out of the way,
- nightlights in the hallways,
- a visual smoke detector if your hearing is impaired,
- trays and shelves that are adjustable, with pull-out storage areas,
- taps that have levers if you’re arthritic,
- suitable locks that allow you to unlock and open doors easily with one hand and deadlock from the inside,
- ramps on walkways where necessary, and
- minimum maintenance requirements.
Read more: About safety in the home
Master Builders Association (MBA)
The MBA is an association of builders and subcontractors who can put you in touch with the right builder in your area. The MBA also runs a ‘Housing for Life Service,’ which can advise on how to make your home safer and more secure.
Independent Living Centres
Independent Living Centres are resource centres that display a comprehensive range of products and equipment to assist with daily living activities. You, your carer and friends are welcome to come and try out products and equipment and decide which are most suitable for your needs. You can also contact our occupational therapistsi on our info-lines for free advice on the types of solutions that are best for you.
Home and Community Care (HACC) Program
You can access home modifications and maintenance services through the HACC Program. The Home and Community Care (HACC) Program aims to provide you with a basic range of maintenance and support services to help you stay at home. The services are provided by the community, privately, and by church or charitable organisations throughout Australia.
To find your state or territory HACC office contact details use the Talk to someone about this feature in the top right hand corner of this page, or try the Department of Health Ageing website.
Home maintenance schemes
For more information on aged care call 1800 200 422.
War veterans
If you’re a war veteran you can get help from:
- HomeFront – a falls and accident prevention program that offers free annual assessments to identify hazards, and
- the Veterans’ Home Maintenance Helpline, which gives you property maintenance advice over the phone and refers you to suitable tradespeople.
Contact the HomeFront and the Veterans’ Home Maintenance Helpline on 1800 801 945.
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres help carers with options to take a break through short-term and emergency respite (based on assessed need) and provide advice on and coordinate access to respite services in a carer’s local area. Contact 1800 200 422. For emergency respite support outside standard business hours, contact 1800 059 059.
Next steps: Community Care Service Finder
Common questions on this topic:
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