Home Modifications

Home Modifications with Brightside Healthcare

At Brightside Healthcare, we have an extensive building modification background and experience in the Aged Care Sector. We have decided to take our experience and knowledge to the Disability Industry to further service those in need.

Brightside Healthcare is a registered Provider who is continually recommended by Occupational Therapists. Participant’s homes can in some cases be unsuitable for living with a lifelong disability, Brightside Healthcare’s Home Modification team identifies areas that are;

  • Unsafe to traverse over the course of daily living
  • Unsuitable given the disability of the participant
  • Inaccessible given physical limitations
  • Impractical given change in Participants wellbeing over their lifetime

The most common areas which are modified that allow a Participant to continue their daily living without impediment or to help facilitate a more comfortable standard of living include but are not limited to;

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

If you are in need of Home Modifications to make a home more accessible for a Participant or family member, are unsure of the necessary steps you need to take or just feel the need to talk to someone regarding your options, you can feel confident that Brightside Healthcare’s Home Modifications team will be proficient in determining what’s needed and assisting in the application for the necessary funding.

Home Modifications as outlined by the NDIA

Home modifications are changes to the structure, layout or fittings of a participant’s home so they safely access it and move around comfortably in areas they frequently use.

As with any building work, there are laws and regulations that need to be adhered to when undertaking home modifications under the Scheme.

Home modifications may be included in your plan if:

Due to the impact of your disability, you or your carers cannot reasonably access and use frequently used rooms and spaces in your primary residence.
Your primary residence, in its current condition, has significant and adverse impacts on the sustainability of current living and care arrangements.
A suitably qualified Occupational Therapist has performed an assessment and recommended home modifications, considering all possible alternatives, including the use of equipment.

Understanding Home Modifications

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.