Falls can affect confidence, mobility and independence, particularly when someone has experienced a previous fall or is finding everyday movement more difficult.
Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy Perth focuses on identifying practical factors that may increase the risk of falls and finding ways to make everyday activities safer. An Occupational Therapist (OT) can assess how a person moves around their home, completes daily tasks and manages their usual routines.
Rather than focusing only on the person, occupational therapy can also consider the environment, equipment, routines and activities that may contribute to falls risk.
For people who prefer to remain living at home, an in-home assessment can provide useful information because the therapist can see the actual environment where daily activities take place.
What Is Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy?
Falls prevention occupational therapy involves assessing a person’s ability to complete everyday activities safely and identifying factors that may contribute to falls.
An OT may look at:
- Walking and transfers
- Showering and bathroom safety
- Getting in and out of bed
- Moving around the kitchen
- Using stairs and entrances
- Getting dressed
- Reaching for household items
- Using mobility or assistive equipment
- Lighting, flooring and potential trip hazards
- How fatigue or changes in function affect daily activities
The assessment is individualised because falls risk can be different for every person.
For example, one person may have difficulty getting safely into the shower, while another may experience problems with transfers, fatigue or navigating narrow spaces at home.
7 Benefits of Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy Perth
1. Identify Potential Falls Risks at Home
One of the main benefits of an OT home assessment is that it takes place in the environment where everyday activities actually happen.
An Occupational Therapist can review areas such as bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways, entrances, kitchens and outdoor access points.
Potential issues may include:
- Loose rugs
- Poor lighting
- Cluttered walkways
- Difficult bathroom access
- Unsafe transfers
- Inappropriate furniture height
- Difficult steps or entrances
Identifying these issues can help create a practical plan for improving safety.
Home-based falls prevention assessments are commonly used to review environmental hazards, daily tasks and support needs.
2. Improve Safety With Everyday Activities
Falls do not necessarily happen because of one obvious hazard.
A person may be more likely to fall when completing a combination of activities, such as standing from a low chair, carrying an object while walking or getting into the shower when tired.
An OT can look at how everyday activities are performed and suggest alternative techniques where appropriate.
This may involve changing the way a task is completed, adjusting the environment or introducing suitable equipment.
The aim is to support safer participation in everyday life while maintaining as much independence as possible.
3. Assess Mobility and Transfers
Moving from one position to another can be challenging for people experiencing changes in strength, balance, coordination or mobility.
An OT may assess functional movements such as:
- Sitting to standing
- Bed transfers
- Toilet transfers
- Shower transfers
- Getting in and out of a chair
- Moving between rooms
The assessment can help identify where additional support may be useful.
Depending on the individual’s circumstances, an OT may recommend changes to the environment, equipment or daily routines.
4. Recommend Appropriate Equipment
Equipment may play an important role in falls prevention for some people.
Depending on the assessment, an Occupational Therapist may consider equipment such as:
- Shower chairs
- Grab rails
- Toilet equipment
- Bed rails where clinically appropriate
- Mobility aids
- Transfer equipment
- Seating solutions
- Other assistive technology
The important point is that equipment should be selected based on the individual’s needs and environment rather than simply choosing a product because it is commonly used.
Occupational therapy falls prevention services may include recommendations for assistive technology and equipment where appropriate.
5. Consider Home Modifications
Sometimes improving safety requires a change to the home environment.
An OT may identify modifications that could make everyday movement easier and safer. Depending on the person’s needs, these could include bathroom changes, grab rails, access improvements or other modifications.
A home modification assessment can also consider how the person uses different areas of the house and whether the current layout creates unnecessary barriers.
For more complex modifications, additional assessment, documentation and coordination may be required.
Falls Prevention and Bathroom Safety
The bathroom is an important area to consider when assessing falls risk.
Wet surfaces, transfers, limited space and difficulty getting in or out of the shower can create challenges for some people.
An OT may assess:
- Shower access
- Shower seating
- Toilet transfers
- Bathroom layout
- Grab rail requirements
- Floor surfaces
- Available space for safe movement
The right solution will depend on the person’s functional ability and the design of their bathroom.
6. Support Confidence and Independence
A fall can sometimes make a person less confident about moving around independently.
They may begin avoiding activities they previously enjoyed because they are worried about falling again.
Occupational therapy can focus on practical strategies that help a person participate more safely in everyday activities.
This may include changing routines, adapting tasks, improving the home environment or recommending suitable equipment.
The broader goal is not simply to remove every possible risk, but to help the person continue participating in meaningful activities as safely as possible.
7. Provide Personalised Falls Prevention Strategies
There is no single falls prevention solution that works for everyone.
An effective assessment considers the person’s individual circumstances, including:
- Mobility
- Strength and physical function
- Daily routines
- Home environment
- Equipment
- Fatigue
- Vision and other sensory considerations
- Cognitive or neurological changes
- Support available from family or carers
An OT can then develop practical recommendations based on the person’s goals and everyday activities.
Who May Benefit From Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy?
Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy Perth may be useful for people who:
- Have experienced a recent fall
- Are worried about falling
- Have had repeated near-falls
- Have changes in mobility
- Find transfers increasingly difficult
- Are experiencing reduced confidence at home
- Have difficulty with bathroom safety
- Use mobility or assistive equipment
- Are ageing and want to remain safely at home
- Have a disability that affects everyday mobility
- Need advice about home modifications
Falls prevention is not limited to one age group. It can be relevant whenever mobility, disability, fatigue, environmental factors or changes in functional ability create additional safety concerns.
Why a Home OT Assessment Can Be Helpful
A clinic-based assessment may not show all the challenges a person experiences at home.
For example, someone may be able to stand from a standard chair in a clinic but have difficulty getting up from their own low lounge chair.
Similarly, a bathroom setup, hallway layout or entrance step may create challenges that cannot easily be reproduced in a clinic.
A home visit allows the Occupational Therapist to consider the actual environment and everyday routines.
This can make recommendations more practical and easier to apply in daily life. Perth OT providers commonly offer home visits specifically for this reason.
Falls Prevention for Older Adults in Perth
Older adults may experience changes in balance, mobility, strength, vision or confidence that affect everyday activities.
Falls prevention OT can support older adults who want to continue living independently at home.
An assessment may consider:
- Safe movement around the house
- Personal care
- Bathroom safety
- Transfers
- Equipment
- Home modifications
- Daily routines
- Support for family members or carers
Falls prevention can also work alongside other allied health services. For example, physiotherapy may focus on strength, balance and physical movement, while occupational therapy can look closely at functional activities and the environment.
A coordinated approach may be appropriate depending on the person’s needs.
Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy and NDIS
For NDIS participants, Occupational Therapy may help assess how disability affects everyday function, safety and independence.
Depending on an individual’s circumstances and plan, OT may involve functional assessment, assistive technology recommendations, home modifications or strategies for completing daily activities more safely.
NDIS funding is individual, so not every falls prevention service or recommendation will automatically be funded.
It is important to discuss the person’s goals, plan and funding arrangements with the relevant support team before commencing services.
What Happens During a Falls Prevention OT Assessment?
A typical assessment may involve several steps.
1. Discuss Your Concerns
The OT may ask about previous falls, near-falls, mobility, daily activities and any concerns you or your family have noticed.
2. Review the Home Environment
The therapist may assess important areas of the home where movement and daily activities take place.
3. Observe Functional Tasks
Where appropriate, the OT may observe activities such as transfers, walking through the home or completing daily tasks.
4. Develop Recommendations
Recommendations may involve changes to routines, equipment, home modifications, education or additional support.
5. Follow-Up
Depending on the person’s needs, follow-up may be useful to review whether recommended changes are working effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a falls prevention occupational therapist do?
A falls prevention occupational therapist assesses how a person’s mobility, daily activities, home environment and equipment may affect safety. They can provide practical recommendations to support safer everyday participation.
Can an OT assess my home for falls risks?
Yes. A home-based OT assessment can review areas such as bathrooms, bedrooms, walkways, entrances and other parts of the home where falls risks may occur.
Can occupational therapy help after a fall?
Yes. An OT can assess functional and environmental factors following a fall and recommend practical strategies, equipment or home changes where appropriate.
Is falls prevention OT only for older adults?
No. Falls prevention can also be relevant to adults living with disability, mobility limitations, neurological conditions or other factors that affect safe movement.
Can an OT recommend home modifications?
Yes. Where appropriate, an OT can assess the home environment and recommend modifications that may improve safety, accessibility and independence.
Does NDIS cover falls prevention occupational therapy?
Funding depends on the individual’s NDIS plan, goals and circumstances. It is important to confirm funding eligibility before arranging services.
Get Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy in Perth
If you or someone you support is becoming less confident moving around at home, Falls Prevention Occupational Therapy Perth can provide practical support based on everyday needs.
An Occupational Therapist can look beyond a single fall and consider the wider picture, including daily activities, mobility, home safety, equipment and environmental barriers.
At BioHealth Wellness, our occupational therapy services are designed to provide practical support in the environments where people live and carry out their everyday activities.
If you are concerned about falls, home safety or maintaining independence, contact our team to discuss whether an OT assessment may be appropriate for your needs.