Home Safety Evaluations & Home Modification Assessments
Most falls happen at home, and many can be prevented with the right changes. In a home safety evaluation, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) walks through your home with you, watches how you actually move through it, and gives you a clear, room-by-room list of home modifications that help you stay safe and independent.
What we look at
- Entrances, steps and stairways
- Bathroom: tub, shower and toilet
- Bedroom and nighttime paths
- Kitchen reach and counter heights
- Lighting and light switch access
- Floors, rugs and clutter
Common recommendations
- Grab bars by the toilet and in the shower
- Shower chair or tub transfer bench
- Raised toilet seat or safety frame
- Handrails on both sides of stairs
- Night lights and brighter walkways
- Ramps or wider doorways for wheelchairs
What to expect
- Home walk-through. We watch how you move through your daily routine.
- Clear recommendations. You get a simple list of changes, from quick fixes to bigger projects.
- Practice and training. We help you and your family use new equipment safely.
Who a home safety evaluation is for
- Older adults who want to keep living in their own home (aging in place)
- Anyone who has fallen, nearly fallen or feels unsteady at home
- People coming home after a hospital stay, surgery or rehab
- People living with Parkinson's, stroke, arthritis or low vision
- Wheelchair, walker or cane users who need better access
- Adult children worried about a parent living alone
Room-by-room: what the assessment covers
Entrances and exits. Steps, railings, thresholds, door widths, outdoor lighting, and whether a ramp or extra handrail would help.
Stairs and hallways. Handrails on both sides, step visibility, lighting and switches at the top and bottom, and safe ways to carry things.
Bathroom. Getting in and out of the tub or shower, toilet height, grab bar placement, non-slip surfaces, and shower chairs or transfer benches.
Bedroom. Bed height, getting in and out of bed, the nighttime path to the bathroom, and reaching lights and a phone from bed.
Kitchen. Reaching everyday items without a step stool, counter and appliance access, and safe ways to carry food and drinks.
Living areas and floors. Throw rugs, cords, clutter, furniture layout and seating that is easy to get up from.
You, not just the house. We also check your balance, strength and walking, and how you use your cane, walker or wheelchair, because the right changes depend on how you move.
What you get
- A prioritized list of changes, from free fixes to bigger projects
- Specific recommendations: which equipment, and exactly where it should go
- Guidance you can hand to a family member, handyman or contractor
- Training for you and your family on using new equipment safely
- A fall risk check and a plan to improve strength and balance
- Follow-up visits, if needed, to make sure the changes are working
Why have a physical therapist do it?
A contractor can tell you what can be built. A physical therapist can tell you what you actually need. We look at how your body moves, your medical conditions and how they may change over time, so the modifications fit you and not just the house. Dr. Uzhansky holds the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) credential, which focuses on home modifications that help people remain in their homes safely. See our fall prevention therapy and equipment evaluations for related services.
Areas we serve
We provide home safety and home modification evaluations across Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County and Montgomery County, including Northeast Philadelphia, Bensalem, Feasterville-Trevose, Warminster and Southampton, Richboro and Holland, Newtown and Langhorne, Levittown and Bristol, Huntingdon Valley, Willow Grove and Jenkintown and Elkins Park.
Frequently asked questions
What is a home safety evaluation?
It is a walk-through of your home by a licensed clinician who looks for fall hazards and barriers, watches how you do everyday tasks, and recommends changes and equipment to make your home safer.
Does Medicare cover a home safety evaluation?
When the evaluation is part of a medically necessary physical therapy plan of care, Medicare Part B may cover it. Coverage depends on your situation and plan, so we check before your first visit. Medicare generally does not pay for the modifications themselves, such as grab bars or ramps.
Do you install grab bars or ramps?
Our role is to evaluate and recommend. We tell you exactly what is needed and where, so you, a family member or a contractor can install it correctly.
Do I have to be a current patient?
No. Call us and we will explain how to get started and what your insurance requires.
Can my family be there?
Yes, and we encourage it. Family members often help carry out the recommendations.
Most older adults want to stay in their own homes as long as possible, but many homes aren't built for changing needs. A home evaluation helps you stay independent longer. Medicare Part B accepted.