Client Background
Elizabeth is a 63-year-old woman living with severe osteoarthritis and preparing for a double knee reconstruction.
Her condition has significantly impacted her mobility and balance, leading to several falls, particularly in the bathroom, where the layout and fixtures were no longer safe for her to use independently.
When Elderfolks became involved, it was clear that her home environment was no longer supporting her safety or independence.
The Challenge
Elizabeth’s home environment was no longer aligned with her physical needs.
Everyday activities such as stepping into the bath, showering, and using the rear stairs had become increasingly unsafe. Without timely modifications, she faced a heightened risk of further falls, injury, and a potential loss of independence, both in the lead-up to surgery and during her recovery.
The challenge for Elderfolks was to identify practical, evidence-based solutions that would improve safety while supporting Elizabeth’s confidence and independence at home.
Our Approach
The Elderfolks Occupational Therapy team completed a comprehensive home assessment, with a focus on the bathroom and rear access stairs.
We carefully observed how Elizabeth moved through her environment, identifying key risk areas and barriers to safe mobility. From this, we developed tailored recommendations to support safer transfers, improve accessibility, and enable her to carry out daily tasks with greater ease.
The Outcome
Following the assessment, Elderfolks recommended a series of targeted modifications to improve safety and accessibility.
These included removing the bath, no longer safe for Elizabeth to step in and out of, and extending the shower area to allow easier access. The updated layout also enabled the installation of a grab rail between the toilet and shower, supporting safer movement within the space.
Additional recommendations included a second grab rail within the shower and the use of non-slip surfaces to further reduce fall risk.
Together, these changes will significantly improve Elizabeth’s safety and support her ability to manage personal care with greater confidence and independence, both now and throughout her recovery.
Why It Matters
Elizabeth’s story highlights how changes in mobility can quickly impact safety at home.
Everyday features, like stepping into a bath, turning in a confined space, or navigating stairs, can become significant hazards when balance and strength are affected.
At Elderfolks, we believe in adapting the home to the individual, not the other way around, creating safer, more supportive environments that promote independence, dignity, and long-term wellbeing.
