The (Home) Mods Squad Newsletter March 2014

THE (HOME) MODS SQUAD!

March 2014 Volume 4, Issue 1

OT Newsletter by SCOPE Access

Another edition of the Home Modification Newsletter for OTs—developed as a resource for OTs across South-Eastern NSW.

“The (Home) Mods Squad” has been put together to provide practical support and information sharing about home modifications and SCOPE Access service provision.

Please let us know if there is a topic that you feel is worthwhile sharing and we will work towards publishing it in the next issue of “The (Home) Mods Squad” newsletter.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Introducing Mary Jackson — HMMS State Council Occupational Therapist

Survey — Home Modifications and Bariatric clients

“OT tips” — Platform steps

Feedback from our survey — Support provided by SCOPE Access OTs

Circulation spaces at doorways — Implications for ramp prescription

“Tradies tips” — Basins, vanity units and shaving cabinets

Head Office and Information Display Centre Dapto

Ph: (02) 4262 4900 Fax: (02) 4260 9494

Email: [email protected]

Milton Office & Rural Builder/OT Service (ROBOT)

Ph: (02) 4454 5739 Fax: (02) 4454 5742


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Ph: 1300 765 887

Head Office and Information Display Centre (3 Hamilton Street, Dapto) SCOPE Access Occupational Therapists (L-R) Kate, Ros, Maria, Annette & Lindsey

Hot off the press...

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Introducing….

Mary Jackson

Occupational Therapist

Home Modifications and Maintenance State Council

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself.

I have recently started at the NSW Home Modification and Maintenance State Council having come from working in a community Occupational Therapy position based at Raymond Terrace.

I graduated from Cumberland College in 1989 and since then have worked in a wide range of areas including; community, HIV/AIDS, case management, paediatrics, mental health, aged care and hospital based positions.

My particular interest in work includes; education, developing new roles for Occupational Therapists, and of course home modifications.

I have also worked in rural, regional and urban settings.

I look forward to developing the current role further and connecting/reconnecting with the Occupational Therapists working in home modifications throughout the State.

State Council are currently exploring a range of different options to make training and education available to services; and will shortly be announcing training events coming up in the next few months.

Contact details:


Phone: (02) 9281 2680

HOME MODIFICATIONS

AND

BARIATRIC CLIENTS

Calling all Occupational Therapists!

You are invited to participate in a research

project being conducted by the

Domiciliary Care Service

at Peninsula Health (VIC).

The purpose of this research is to determine how you

prescribe home modifications for bariatric clients

and

the typical modifications you prescribe.

If you work in the acute, sub-acute or community

setting in the public or private health care sector, they

want to hear what you think.

It will only take 10 minutes of your time.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PVQPQPY

If you have any questions about being a research

participant you may contact:

Peninsula Health Human Research Ethics Committee

Telephone: (02) 9788 1473

Platform Steps

Practical tips when considering platform steps

Platform steps are often recommended in situations where a person is using a walking aid, and a ramp cannot be

accommodated due to insufficient space.

Before you recommend platform steps it is important to consider the following points:

Does the person have the cognitive function, upper limb strength, coordination and balance to lift their

walking aid up and down the steps? What is their long term prognosis?

Will they be carrying any items such as shopping bags? Are they going to be pulling or pushing heavy rubbish

bins up and down the steps?

The Australian Standard that refers

to platform steps was based on the

use of a pick up frame, not a 4

wheeled walker.

AS 1428.2 (1992) recommends that

platform steps have a step height of 95-105mm and tread length of 575-600mm

Use masking tape or chalk to simulate the task with your client. Tread length: The person may need as much

as 900-1000mm tread length. Step width: Map this out with your client. Consider the distance between

bilateral hand rails.

Consider recommending visual contrast strips to step nosings. The tread length and step height of a platform

step is not what the majority of people are familiar with. Consider the other residents and whether this is the

main access into and out of the home.

The threshold step into the home is often a similar height to what a platform step height might be. Simulate

the task using the threshold step, making sure you repeat the task so that you get an

indication of how many steps the person can safely manage. It can be very tiring doing a number of platform

steps in succession.

There are some platform steps at the SCOPE Access Head Office and Information Display Centre (Dapto).

If you would like to trial platform

steps with your client, please call reception

to book in an appointment

Ph: 1300 765 887

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Before After

After Before

Reference: Australian Standard AS 1428.2 (1992). Design for access and mobility Part 2: Enhanced and additional requirements —Buildings and facilities

Survey feedback

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A huge thank you to those of you that took the time to complete the OT support role survey in October last year. The

information gathered from this survey assists us to evaluate the effectiveness and value of the OT support role

service. Here are some survey results that you may find interesting...

86% of survey respondents indicated that they have utilised the SCOPE Access OT support role.

Of those who have utilised the OT support role:

95% found the guidance/advice/input/assistance provided by SCOPE Access OTs “extremely valuable”

5% found it “somewhat valuable”

52% of respondents have access to a computer assisted drawing program such as: OT draw/Turbo CAD

80% of respondents reported that they would prefer email contact compared to phone or face-to-face contact

Of the survey respondents who receive this newsletter;

53% find the content “extremely helpful”, 47% find it “somewhat helpful”

In summary, the responses that we received from the survey were overwhelmingly positive and will be most useful

in assisting us to evaluate and shape the SCOPE Access OT support role as changes within the various sectors roll out

in the coming years.

Types of cases where OT’s feel support would be

most valuable:

Stages of the home mods process where support is

required/sought:

Anticipated benefits of utilising the OT support role:

020406080

100

% o

f res

pond

ents

0 20 40 60 80

Increase my understanding of home mods application, review & approval process

Assist me to become proficient in assessing & recommending home mods

Develop my skills with regard to drawing plans/diagrams for proposed mods

Develop my skills with regard to writing OT specs for proposed mods

Provide a time efficient process for the client

Ease my caseload

Increase my knowledge of best practice in regard to home mods

Increase my knowledge of building techniques & products in regard to home mods

% of respondents

Circulation spaces at doorways

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Landings are often required at the top and bottom of ramps, as well as at the entrances to vertical lifts.

The Australian Standard AS 1428.1 (2009) recommends a 1500 x 1500mm landing for a 90° turn and a

1200 x 1000mm landing when there is no change in direction.

When there is a doorway at a landing you will need to consider the following:

What type of door is it? Is it a sliding door or swinging door?

If it is a swinging door, which way does it open? Does the door open toward or away from the user?

What is the clear door opening?

What direction is the person going to be approaching the door from?

From the hinge/slide side, the latch side, front on or from both the hinge/slide side and latch side?

Other factors to consider:

Dimensions of the mobility aid (consider current and future needs)

Is the mobility aid powered, self propelled or attendant propelled?

Is the person going to be negotiating the access independently or with assistance of a carer?

If a carer is providing assistance—is this assistance provided from the side or rear of the person?

Storage of equipment

Can the swinging door be re-swung or removed? Screen doors are often removed to improve access

When you know the answers to these questions – you may wish to refer to Figure 31 and Figure 32 of the

Australian Standard AS 1428.1 (2009) for some guidance. We have summarised the Australian Standard

AS 1428.1 (2009) on page 6 of this newsletter.

REMEMBER to simulate the task with your client, their equipment and anyone providing assistance with access

as you may find the standards do not suit your clients individual needs. The standards are just a guide. Your

functional assessment is paramount.

Latch side Slide side

Latch side Hinge side Latch side Hinge side

Sliding door Swinging door—opens

towards the person

Swinging door—opens

away from the person

Reference: Australian Standard AS 1428.1 (2009). Design for access and mobility Part 1: General requirements for access—New building work

Circulation spaces at doorways NOTE: All measurements are in mm

Reference: Australian Standards AS 1428.1 (2009). Design for access and mobility Part 1: General requirements for access—New building work

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SWINGING DOOR

⌂ That opens

toward

the user

SWINGING DOOR

⌂ That opens

away from

the user

SLIDING DOOR

Direction of approach Clear opening of doorway Landing length Hinge width Latch width

Front approach only Door opening not relevant 1450 0 510

Latch side approach only 850 1240 240

660 900 1210 190

950 1175 140

1000 1155 90

Hinge side approach only 850 1220 560

340 900 1185 510

950 1160 460

1000 1140 410

Approach from either side (i.e. latch and hinge side)

850 1240 560

660 900 1210 510

950 1175 460

1000 1155 410



Slide side approach only 850

1280

660

395 900 610

950 560

1000 510

Latch side approach only 850

1230

185

660 900 180

950 180

1000 180


850

1280

660

660 900 610

950 560

1000 510



Latch side approach only Door opening not relevant 1670 110 900

Hinge side approach only 850

1670

660

900 900 610

950 560

1000 510


850

1670

660

900 900 610

950 560

1000 510

Tradies tips: basins, vanity units & shaving cabinets

| For further assistance call SCOPE Access on 1300 765 887 |

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Semi recessed vanity unit

Can be useful for people who need to perch at the basin and retain storage within the bathroom

Storage space may be required for continence/hygiene products or when there are multiple residents

Bench top storage space on either side of basin

Option for unit to be wall mounted or on legs—consider risk of water damage & proximity to shower recess

Consider whether 1 or 3 tap holes are required (flick mixer vs capstan or lever taps)

Wash basin with shelf

Can be useful for people who need to sit at the basin

Bench top storage space on one side of basin

Available in right or left bowl—consider the angle of approach

Some units have the option for towel rail under the basin and storage cabinet

under the shelf

Consider whether 1 or 3 tap holes are required (flick mixer vs capstan or lever

taps)

Semi recessed/wall hung basin

Can be useful for people who need to sit at the basin i.e. those using mobile commodes & w/chairs

Bench top storage space on either side of basin

Suited to a front-on approach

Consider whether 1 or 3 tap holes are required (flick mixer vs capstan or lever taps)

Corner—wall hung basin

Useful in small bathrooms and when a person needs to

sit/perch at the basin. Minimal bench top storage space

Small basin—people with larger hands may have difficulty

Consider the cabinet position and the risk of someone

bumping their head when washing their face/shaving

Consider whether 1 or 3 tap holes are required (flick

mixer vs capstan or lever taps)

Tips for specifying the hand washing facility in OT specifications:

Specify the type of hand washing facility (i.e. semi recessed vanity unit, wall hung basin, wash basin with shelf etc)

Specify if the vanity unit is to be wall hung or on legs

Specify the exact position (i.e. Position on wall __ of bathroom; centerline of basin to be __mm off junction between wall__/__ )

Specify the maximum width, depth and height of the basin/vanity unit (i.e. Height from floor to top of bowl to be ______mm)

Specify the type of taps (Flick mixer, lever or capstan taps) and whether a fixed/swivel spout is required (important with small

basins)

Specify hot/cold indicators & the length of lever tap handles if required

Mirrored shaving cabinets

2 swing open doors

Available in 600/750/900mm

length and 600/750/900mm

width (any combination)

Can be semi recessed as long

as it is not a solid wall

Consider clearance above tap

Provided by our experienced team of Builders, Carpenters,

Horticulturalist, Landscape Designer and Jacks of all trades

www.reece.com.au

Useful supplier websites: www.tradelink.com.au

www.aurorabathrooms.com

Documents

The (Home) Mods Squad Newsletter March 2014