Home Modifications

Love Hope Care (LHC)offers a wide range of building modification services, with years of experience in the Aged Care Sector. Recently, we have expanded our services to the Disability Industry, bringing our expertise and knowledge to help more people in need.

As a registered provider, Love Hope Care is highly recommended by Occupational Therapists. Our Home Modification team specializes in identifying areas that may be unsuitable for individuals with lifelong disabilities to live in. We assess and modify spaces that are unsafe to traverse during daily living, unsuitable for the participant’s disability, inaccessible due to physical limitations, or impractical given changes in the participant’s wellbeing over time.

Difficult to navigate safely during daily activities.
Not appropriate for the participant’s specific disability
Inaccessible due to physical limitations
Not practical considering changes in the participant’s wellbeing over time.

Some of the most common areas that are modified to help participants continue their daily lives without any hindrance or to improve their quality of life include (but are not limited to):

Bathrooms
Kitchens
Bedrooms
Transition areas such as Hallways & Home Entry
Stairways between Ground and First floor

If you or a family member require home modifications to make your living space more accessible, but are unsure of the necessary steps to take, or need to discuss your options with someone, rest assured that Love Hope Care’s Home Modifications team can help. We have the expertise to assess what modifications are needed and to assist with the application for necessary funding.

Home modifications refer to alterations made to a participant’s home, including changes to its structure, layout, or fittings, to enable them to safely access it and move around comfortably in areas they frequently use. It’s important to note that like any building work, there are laws and regulations that must be followed when undertaking home modifications under the Scheme.

If you’re wondering whether home modifications can be included in your plan, here are some criteria to consider:

Your disability makes it difficult for you or your carers to access and use frequently used rooms and spaces in your primary residence.
Your current living and care arrangements are significantly and adversely impacted by the condition of your primary residence.
An Occupational Therapist with the appropriate qualifications has conducted an assessment and recommended home modifications after considering all possible alternatives, including the use of equipment.

Understanding Home Modifications

What is a home modification?

Home Modifications are changes to the structure, layout or fittings of a participant’s home that are required to enable the participant to safely access and move around their home.

What are the three main categories of home modifications?

SIMPLE MODIFICATIONS

Simple home adaptions are low cost, such as grab rails or mounted shower chairs, and are generally easy for participants to access.

MINOR MODIFICATIONS

“Minor Mods” are non-structural but require experienced professional support to identify and deliver the right solution. The scope of work and associated costs being relatively low, for example, non-structural door widening.

COMPLEX MODIFICATIONS (CHM)

CHM’s involve structural changes, are relatively higher cost, higher risk and require a greater level of certification. CHM typically have a greater impact on participants’ lives and may involve work on a combination of different areas within the home, such as bathroom, kitchen and bedroom or access to the home.

Are there any restrictions as to what a participant can have included in their home mod?

Yes. The modifications must be related directly to the participants disability and be necessary to enable them to safely access and move around their home. However other inclusions not related directly may be deemed necessary to ensure relevant building codes and warranties are met.

The following items are an example of what generally do not meet all reasonable and necessary criteria for NDIS funded support:

Site works not related to a participants disability, or required as a result of a poorly sourced building site.
Upgraded items/features not related to a participants disability.
Lifts in planned dwellings where a multiple storey home is planned or required as a result of an unsuitable site.

Can the participant contribute their own funds to upgrade their selections?

A participant may contribute their own or other funding for a higher standard (and potentially more expensive) finish, or home modifications solution that achieves an equivalent outcome. Participants may also choose to extend the scope of works beyond what is assessed as reasonable and necessary by the NDIS, via a separate service agreement with the Builder.

What is the Occupational Therapists (OT) role with regards to Home Modifications?

The participant will need to engage the services of an Occupational Therapist to complete a full assessment to ascertain what modifications are required to suit the individual participant. The OT will draft a report detailing the modifications. The OT will then meet with the Builder on site for a “Builders Consultation” meeting where the report will be discussed in readiness for the quotation to be prepared by the Builder. Once the Builders proposal has been received from the Builder the OT will then be required to compile a submission pack containing both the assessment report and the Builders proposal.

What is the Builders role with regards to Home modifications proposals?

The Builder’s role is to interpret the OT’s report and create a final scope of works required to complete the modifications to its fullest and compliance to all relevant building standards and codes. The Builder will then be required to draft a “Builders Proposal” and send to the OT to be included in their submission pack.

What should be included in the Builders proposal?

The typical Home Modifications quote from a Builder or contractor for an approved scope of works, should contain the following:

Name, registered address, telephone and email contact details
ABN
Builders license number.
Contract (if applicable)
Signing / acceptance page (if no contract)
The Scope of Works
Any relevant documentation, drawings, specifications
Price breakdown detailing price, GST, Provisional sums, prime cost items, any exclusions etc.

Will a building permit be required for a complex home modification?

Although building permits are issued by local and/or state government, generally, provided the works remain within the current footprint of the building, it is rare for building permits to be required. The building consultant can advise on a case by case basis.

The NDIS may consider funding reasonable costs associated with obtaining building permits in accordance with all relevant Federal, State and Local Municipality legislative requirements.

Where will the funding for home modifications be allocated in the participants plan?

A participant can access funding for Home Modifications through the capital budget in their NDIS plan. NDIA acceptance of a quote for CHM requires an assessment and supporting evidence from a qualified Assessor (Occupational Therapist) who considers options such as the participant’s environment, NDIS goals and ongoing support needs.

Will the participant have to pay for the Builder’s quotations?

Most plans have a “Builders Consultation Fee” (BCF) included. This generally allows for up to two Builders to visit site with the OT to understand the full scope and to document an itemised transparent quotation ready for submission.

In the event that there has been no BCF allowed for in the quotation then it will be up to the participant or their representative to negotiate with the Builder.

Home Modifications

Home Modifications as outlined by the NDIA

If you’re wondering whether home modifications can be included in your plan, here are some criteria to consider:

Understanding Home Modifications

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