Older people and people with disabilities have a right to be included in all aspects of home and community life, yet environmental barriers continue to exist in the built environment. There are concerns about how well homes can support older people and people with disabilities over time as their needs change. Occupational therapists are well-suited to determining the most appropriate home modification solutions to address environmental barriers. They possess the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate people's current and future needs in the context of the nature and use of the environment and can work collaboratively with design and construction professionals to develop solutions. To be comprehensive and effective in their approach, occupational therapists need to understand not only the individual's requirements, but also the ethical and legal contexts for practice, technical aspects of the built environment, relevance and intent of access standards and design approaches, and application of a range of products and finishes. An Occupational Therapist's Guide to Home Modification Practice, Second Edition by Elizabeth Ainsworth and Desleigh de Jonge and their team of expert contributors provides comprehensive information to inform occupational therapists about current practice and research. This includes the authors using a transactional approach to examine the person-occupation-environment interaction and providing occupational therapists with a detailed understanding of the various dimensions of the home environment that can impact clients' home modification decisions. New material has been provided relating to research and practice issues, such as an overview of the latest home modification outcome research findings as documented in literature; an update on outcome evaluation; new research information about the dimensions of the home impacting decision making; additional information on grab rail and ramp prescription; and the inclusion of new case studies illustrating minor and major modification solutions for clients who present with diverse needs. In the Second Edition, you'll find: A detailed understanding of aspects of the home environment that impact home modification decisions A review of legislative environment and funding systems that facilitate service delivery An overview of home modification services as well as future trends A range of comprehensive case studies illustrated by photographs Additional theory to inform knowledge and skill development that can be used in home modification practice worldwide Instructors in educational settings can visit www.efacultylounge.com for additional education material to be used for teaching in the classroom.An Occupational Therapist's Guide to Home Modification Practice, Second Edition provides a range of resources and tools, and it can be used as a teaching aid to support students, interns, and novice therapists or as a manual for reflection and practice for more experienced home modification practitioners.

The first book of its kind, this text outlines and defines the process for selecting, integrating, and utilizing assistive technology in the work environment. Each stage of the process is examined in depth, and effective strategies are presented to help overcome the barriers likely to be encountered at each stage. The book also provides insight into the client's experience by drawing on research that explores the experiences of people using assistive technology in the workplace and the issues they face in acquiring and using their technology in the work environment. Results from the Assistive Technology User Study are explained - an extensive and unique research project undertaken by the authors that examines the experiences of AT users in the workplace, the barriers they experience, and the support strategies they use to function in the work environment. AT user quotes and anecdotes bring immediacy to obstacles faced in the workplace. Vignettes and case studies throughout the text encourage students to apply principles to real-life situations. Appendices include listings for various professional organizations, funding, listservs, and research resources, as well as lists of questions therapists and clients should ask in various situations. Material progresses in a logical manner, examining each facet of workplace AT beyond its theory and evaluation. Consumer/client-centered focus takes the client's needs into account, featuring anecdotes from the users interviewed in the AT User Study. Employer concerns are addressed, using anecdotes to illustrate issues from the employer's perspective - an essential factor to consider when selecting appropriate technology.

The importance of a supportive home environment to successful ageing in place has been well established in the literature with home modifications increasingly acknowledged as a way of removing barriers to function and independence for older people. Home modification literature and practice primarily focuses on the home environment as a physical space in which to perform tasks and on the impact of modification on competencies and function. Home however is much more than a physical environment. Within a transactive framework, people and places are seen as engaged in a dynamic, reciprocal relationship through which home becomes a place of significant personal meaning. Through a qualitative framework, this study examines the experience of older people living in the community who are recipients of a home modification service. It explores the impact of modifying the physical environment on their experience of home as a place of meaning and provides insight into how home modifications can strengthen home as place of personal and social meaning as well as improving safety and comfort for the older person at home.