Increasing participation with home modifications across the lifespan

Occupational therapy focuses on the goal of enabling participation in the client’s valued occupations (American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 2020). Occupational therapy practitioners utilize their knowledge of the client’s abilities and impairments, the demands of the occupation, and the context within which the occupation occurs to design intervention plans to enhance the client’s participation (AOTA, 2020). Home modifications are indicated when environmental factors challenge the person’s ability to safely or effectively complete a valued occupation. While environmental modifications are often thought of as major structural changes, they can also include minor nonstructural changes including using assistive devices (Doyle & Moore, 2024). While the solution may appear simple, the professional reasoning required to reach that solution may be complex, and incorporating a skilled occupational therapist in the process for even minor modifications may potentially improve the outcomes (Ainsworth & de Jonge, 2019). In a systematic review by Stark and colleagues (2017) strong evidence was found to support the impact of home modification interventions on improving function.