Promoting Safety and Function Through Home Assessments

Abstract

This article focuses on performing home assessments. It presents the purposes of home assessments, including regulatory guideline adherence, fall reduction, function improvement, and assistive device and adaptive equipment provision. Included is a review of the literature regarding the role of home assessments in reducing falls and maximizing function. The Safe at Home (Securing a Functional Environment with the Anemaet-Trotter Home Observation and Modification Evaluation), the Functional Environment Assessment (FEA), and the Home Safety Checklist provide several methods for performing effective home assessments.