Rehab Medical prides itself on providing an efficient process for you to obtain a mobility solution that suits your unique needs. One of the most important steps in our process is the second step, also known as the documentation stage. The documentation stage consists of an individual working with a Rehab Medical mobility specialist and a physical therapist or an occupational therapist to assess your mobility needs. A key focus in the documentation stage includes a home assessment to ensure your mobility solution will allow you to complete activities of daily living. Check out this guide on what to know about home assessments so you can be prepared.
What is an in-home assessment? An Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) will work with you to conduct a home assessment. They will check for high-traffic areas to ensure your new mobility product can easily get in and out of those spaces. Typically, the high-traffic areas we check are kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, and connecting hallways. What we are looking for are exact measurements of each space to see if your new chair can easily get in and out of those spaces. To be helpful, if you have blueprints of your home with exact measurements, send us that info before the assessment. We also evaluate if you have carpet versus hardwood floors, as this makes a difference in how easily you can drive your chair.
Why is an in-home assessment an essential part of the process?
Your equipment should be able to help you complete activities of daily living within the comfort of your home. In order to do that, an ATP must complete the necessary evaluation to ensure your equipment helps you complete these activities, as well as pinpoint any other necessary equipment or accessories. See below for a list of things an in-home assessment helps with:
Ensures your needs are met adequately.
Accesses the layout of your home for wheelchair accessibility.
Ensures the width of hallways and door frames fit for driving in your home.
Guarantees critical areas can be reached in the home if you choose not to transfer out of your equipment.
Assures you can transfer safely from your wheelchair to the main areas of your home, such as the bedroom, bathroom, family room, and kitchen.
Important Questions to ask
To help you advocate for your right to mobility independence, we recommend jotting down a list of important questions to cover to help you relish the beautiful moments of life given to us. To help get you started, here are some initial questions we’ve prepared for you:
Can I review the home assessment details before approval through insurance?
What do I need to do if a mistake is made on the home assessment document?
How long does a home assessment last?
Will I or someone else need to be at my home for this assessment?
What if I am in a facility? Do I still need a home assessment?
Who do I keep in touch with for my wheelchair needs?